Celiac Disease (Gluten intolerance)

What do you mean by Celiac Disease or What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease caused by an immune response to the protein gluten. What is gluten? Gluten is a protein found naturally in the human body. It is extracted, concentrated and added to foods and other products for protein, texture, flavor. Gluten also acts as a glue for processed foods and gives them their shape. When gluten is found in your digestive tract, your immune system produces antibodies to fight off the gluten. These antibodies attack the lining of the small intestine called the mucosa. When the mucosa is damaged, the small intestine is unable to absorb nutrients from food, resulting in nutritional deficiencies. Celiac disease is estimated to affect between 0.5-1% of the world's population people with autoimmune conditions such as Addison's Disease, type 1 diabetes and microscopic colitis are at an increased risk of developing Celiac Disease.

When people with Celiac disease eat gluten containing foods, their body has an abnormal response. The immune system, which fights disease, begins to attack the small intestine. The immune system attacks the small bumps called villi that line small intestine. Villi help the body absorb nutrients from food into the bloodstream. Without the presence of the villi, the small intestine can not absorb enough nutrients, regardless of how much food is consumed.

Symptoms may appears during Celiac Disease:

Loss of weight or gain of weight, Vomiting and Nausea, Difficulty to pass stool (constipation) with foul smelling stools or diarrhea, Neurological symptoms like (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), bloating, edema, changes in mood, electrolyte imbalance, joints and bones pain, brain fog (inability to concentrate), other symptoms may include:

Anemia: is a reduction in red blood cells, which can cause weakness, fatigue and bruising. This is one of celiac's most common symptoms. In some people, it can be so severe that they need iron transfusions. Anxiety is the body's way of dealing with stress. It's more than just worrying. It's intense, long term, and usually too much to handle in everyday situations like talking to friends or driving. Joints and arthritis can cause inflammations, pain, and stiffness. Brain fog is being too "spaced out". It can make it hard to concentrate, or it can make it difficult to remember things. Some people call it mental fatigue, forgetting, groggy, being disconnected or mentally confused. Depression is more than just feeling down. It's a persistent lack of interest in things you enjoy. Various studies have suggested that there may be a connection between depression and brain functions.

Patient with celiac disease may have discolored teeth, such as white, yellow, brown teeth. Untreated celiac disease may lead to weakened enamel or delayed tooth eruption in children. Patients with autoimmune conditions like celiac disease may experience chronic tiredness. Fatigue is characterized by long term exhaustion. Patient may feel tired even after getting a good night sleep. Patient may experience headaches, migraines after consuming gluten. Celiac disease may be the cause of women's infertility. Patient who have celiac disease may also experience irritability, such as being impatient or grumpy in adults, or having outbursts of angry or temper tantrums in children. Itchy skin rash (DH). Itchy skin rash is a type of skin rash that is very itchy and persistent. Itchy skin rash usually resolve on their own once person is on gluten free diet. Some medications may help to reduce the itching. Mouth sores like mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, may also resolve on their own. Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: Thin bones that are easily broken can be sign of celiac disease. Peripheral neuropathy is a medical conditions that causes tingling/numbness/neuropathy i n your hands, feet, and other extremities. 

What are the diagnosis of Celiac Diseases?

Diagnosis of celiac disease begins with a thorough physical exam with a full medical history, followed by the blood tests that measures the presence of specific antibodies in your blood. Initial blood tests should include a tTG IgA and a total serum IgA, as well as a DGP IgG. This test can be used to detect Celiac in individuals with an IgA deficiency and an Endomysial Antibody (EMA) deficiency. The next step is a top endoscopy, which involves biopsying several small intestines, including your duodenum, to determine the presence of Celiac. It is important to keep consuming gluten during the testing process, as not doing so can result in an inconclusive or false negative result. Additionally, following a strict gluten free diet for an extended period of time can be difficult and require a medical need to be proven.

Alternatives of gluten free foods:

How to eat less gluten (and gluten free alternatives) Eating less gluten doesn't means you have to give up your favorite foods. There are plenty of gluten free alternatives for breads, pasta, cakes, cookies and more. Most gluten free foods will taste different than what you are used to, but most of the time it's worth it. There are many hidden gluten containing ingredients, such as: 4 grams of malt, 4 grams of brewer's yeast, 4 grams of soy sauce, 4 grams of beer, 4 grams of flour, 4 grams of salt, 4 grams of butter, 4 grams of margarine, 4 grams of olive oil, 4 grams of sugar, 5 grams of salt, 6 grams of butter, 20 grams of honey.

Difference between gluten intolerance and Celiac disease:

Gluten intolerance differs from celiac disease in that it is not an autoimmune disease. However, a person with gluten intolerance may have all the ymptoms of a person with celiac disease, including Belly bloating Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea skin rash, Constipation, Brain fog.

What are gluten sensitivity and gluten ataxia?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine of people who eat gluten. Gluten intolerance is a condition in which gluten causes gastrointestinal irritation in people who do not have celiac. Wheat allergen allergy is  an allergy that affects the body's sensitivity to wheat. People who are allergic to wheat may not be allergic to all grains, but they may be allergic to some grains and may not be able to tolerate gluten. Gluten ataxia is a rare Neuro-degenerative disorder in which the body attacks parts of the brain when exposed to gluten.