What is Coeliac Disease? 

‍

A question I'm sure most people reading this thought when they were diagnosed, I certainly had never heard of it. 

So, what is coeliac disease? It is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues who you eat gluten or even consume food which has been cross contaminated by gluten. It is NOT an allergy or food intolerance, it is a serious illness. Coeliac disease causes damage to the lining of the gut, which means the body is unable to absorb nutrients from food. Therefore weight loss and malnutrition occur.

‍

What are the symptoms of Coeliac Disease?

Every person will experience different symptoms and in different severities. They can range from mild to severe and can come and go. 

Some of the main/ common symptoms include 

• Common symptoms - Diarrhoea (due to intestines not being able to absorb nutrients)/excessive wind and or constipation , abdominal pain/ stomach aches, bloating and farting, indigestion, constipation, vomiting, anaemia, mouth ulcers, repeated miscarriages, liver abnormalities, cognitive impairment/brain fog, headaches/migraines, joint pain, missed periods and osteoporosis 
• General symptoms- Fatigue/ tiredness, unexpected weight loss, itchy rash, infertility, tingling and numbness in hands/feet
• Other symptoms- Issues with coordination, balance and speech 

‍

Did you know there are 3 divisions of symptoms for Coeliac Disease?

1. Classical - includes: Diarrhoea, vomiting, weightless and growth failure in children 
2. Non-Classical - includes: Mild gastrointestinal symptoms, suffer from abdominal dissection and pain or other symptoms - iron deficiency, chronic migraines, chronic fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, reduced bone mass and fractures, vitamin deficiency, unexplained fertility.
3. Silent - Asymptomatic include: no symptoms but still experience villous atrophy damage to their small intestine. Even though patients thought they had no symptoms after going on a strict gluten free diet they report better health, and a reduction in acid reflux, abdominal bloating, distention and flatulence. 

‍

How does the Coeliac Diagnosis work?

Most commonly the diagnosis includes 2 blood tests which measure the antibodies produced in response to eating gluten. 

Then further testing by a specialist either a paediatrician or paediatric gastroenterologist. This usually includes a biopsy which involves an endoscopy that occurs at the hospital on the lining of the gut to give an official diagnosis of Coeliac. 

‍

What happens once diagnosed?

Commonly you will be put in touch with a dietitian who will give you some advice on the change to your diet. In my case I also had a Dexa Scan, this is an X-Ray that measures the bone mineral density. Due to coeliac disease causing defeciencies and osteoporosis its important to check the bone health.

It is recommended that Coeliacs receive ongoing monitoring by a paediatric dietitian and gastroenterologist.

The Coeliac UK has a helpline for any questions or help wanted - 0333 332 2033

‍

‍

What Causes Coeliac Disease?

‍

It is caused by an abnormal immune system reaction to the protein Gliadin in gluten. The immune system mistakes healthy cells and substances for harmful ones and produces antibodies against them. These antibodies cause the surface of your intestine to become inflamed, making it red and swollen. 

The surface of the intestine is covered in villi, this is what helps the gut to  digest food more effectively by increasing the surface area of the gut. With coeliac disease, the villi get damaged and become flat which means they're unable to digest food properly. This results in the intestine not digesting nutrients and leads to deficiency and being malnourished.

‍

Family History

Coeliac disease usually runs in families. For example, if you have a close family member with the condition such and a parent of sibling, your chances of getting coeliac are increased. 

The risk is around 10% for those with family history. Identical twins have a 75% chance of developing coeliac disease.

‍

Environmental Factors

You're more likely to develop coeliac disease if you had a digestive infection in your early childhood. It is recommended that you do not give a baby gluten until it is at least 6 months old, and this may increase the babies chance of developing coeliac disease. 

‍

Stress

A recent study (McMaster University in Canada suggests that there is a link between trauma in childhood and coeliac disease. However, further research is needed to understand this.

‍

Another study in 2013 looked into the life events and onset of coeliac disease. The study indicated that life-events are associated to some degree with recent diagnosis in celiac disease. 

‍

A study in Italy published in the medical journal Nutrients looked at whether stress may contribute to the development of coeliac disease. Researchers compared stressful events stressful events in newly diagnosed coeliacs with stressful events in control group of adults with a gastroesophagael reflux disease (not auto immune). R

The research found that those with coeliac disease were more likely to have experiences one of these life events in the year prior to diagnosis compatriot dot the control group . 

Regarding gender, it was found that women with coeliac were more likely to have a life event in history than women in control group. They found that pregnancy was also a potential life event that can trigger coeliac disease.

‍

‍

‍

‍