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Celiac disease, also called sprue, is an immune reaction to eating gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine's lining and prevents it from absorbing some nutrients (malabsorption). The intestinal damage often causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia, and can lead to serious complications.
Causes
Your genes combined with eating foods with gluten and other factors can contribute to celiac disease, but the precise cause isn't known. When the body's immune system overreacts to gluten in food, the reaction damages the tiny, hair-like projections (villi) that line the small intestine. Villi absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat. If your villi are damaged, you can't get enough nutrients, no matter how much you eat.
Risk factors
Celiac disease tends to be more common in people who have:
A family member with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis
Type 1 diabetes
Down syndrome or Turner syndrome
Autoimmune thyroid disease
Microscopic colitis (lymphocytic or collagenous colitis)
Addison's disease
Treatment
A strict, lifelong gluten-free diet is the only way to manage celiac disease.
Besides wheat, foods that contain gluten include:
Barley
Bulgur
Durum
Farina
Graham flour
Malt
Rye
Semolina
Spelt (a form of wheat)
Triticale
A dietitian who works with people with celiac disease can help you plan a healthy gluten-free diet. Even trace amounts of gluten in your diet can be damaging, even if they don't cause signs or symptoms.
Gluten can be hidden in foods, medications and nonfood products, including:
Modified food starch, preservatives and food stabilizers
Prescription and over-the-counter medications
Vitamin and mineral supplements
Herbal and nutritional supplements
Lipstick products
Toothpaste and mouthwash
Communion wafers
Envelope and stamp glue
Play dough
Removing gluten from your diet will gradually reduce inflammation in your small intestine, causing you to feel better and eventually heal. Children tend to heal more quickly than adults.
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