How do I know if I'm a Coeliac?

Coeliac disease is a genetic disorder affecting children and adults. It is not a food allergy, but an autoimmune disorder and can not be “grown out of”. People with Coeliac Disease are unable to eat foods that contain gluten, which is found in wheat and other grains. It is an autoimmune disorder that involves an adverse immune system reaction to gliadin, a gluten protein found in wheat (also found in barley, rye and a small amount in oats). Upon exposure to gliadin, the enzyme tissue transglutaminase modifies the protein, and the immune system cross-reacts with the bowel tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction. That leads to flattening of the lining of the small intestine through the destruction of the microvilli, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients. The microvilli are an essential part of the digestive process, providing activating enzymes for the pancreatic enzyme precursosrs and also providing a final site of enzymic break down and adsorption (through diffusion and active transport) of sugars, polypeptides and lipids.

Causes

It was believed that it effected 1 in 1500 people however current statistics in America suggest it effects 1 out of 133 people, with similar statistics believed to be relevant to the UK. Coeliac disease is sometimes associated with other conditions. People with Type 1 diabetes, thyroid problems and ulcerative colitis have an increased chance of developing it. Other documented causes include: food intolerance , food allergy, long term use of some medicines , a Bacteria or Viral infection, poor diet , long term laxative usage , intestinal infections , protein deficiency, long term antibiotic use, lack of digestive enzymes and excessive stress.

One definite risk factor is a history of the condition in your family. Coeliac disease occurs in people who are genetically prone to it. If you have a parent, sibling or child with coeliac disease, you have a 10 per cent chance of also developing it. If you have an identical twin with coeliac disease, your chances increase to more than 70 per cent. All the necessary genes to develop coeliac disease are not known; however, chromosomes HLA DQ2 and/or DQ8 are necessary to develop the disease. Since 1/3 of the general population also have these genes, the presence of DQ2 or DQ8 does not imply that the person will develop coeliac disease, rather, that they have a genetic compatibility with coeliac disease. Conversely, the absence of DQ2/DQ8 almost certainly rules out coeliac disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Celiac Disease include diarrhoea, (sometimes constipation) weight loss, abdominal pain, chronic fatigue, weakness, malnutrition, and other gastrointestinal problems, a blistering, itchy skin rash mostly on the elbows and knees called dermatitis herpetiformis.. Some people barely experience any bowel pains at all. In children, the symptoms may include failure to thrive (an inability to grow and put on weight), irritability, an inability to concentrate, diarrhoea and bloating. Further, people affected by Coeliac Disease may experience extra intestinal symptoms that involve many systems and organs including bones (osteoporosis, arthritis, and joint pain), blood (anaemia and bleeding), reproductive system (infertility and reoccurring abortion), nervous system (chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, dementia), and behavioural changes.

A blood test is available to screen for the presence of specific antibodies to diagnose Coeliac disease.

Well Necessities offers a Coeliac Blood Test at a charge of £25 if your doctor refuses to test you.

A biopsy of the intestine (before beginning a gluten free diet) is needed to make a final diagnosis. Though no test for coeliac disease is definitive, the most powerful indicator is a blood test widely used for three years that measures levels of antitissue transglutaminase, or anti-tTG, the antibodies to an enzyme the body secretes when gluten irritates or damages the small intestine.

Long Term Effects

Untreated Celiac Disease can be life threatening. Coeliacs are more likely to be afflicted with problems relating to malabsorption, including osteoporosis, tooth enamel defects, central and peripheral nervous system disease, pancreatic disease, internal haemorrhaging, organ disorders (gall bladder, liver, and spleen), and gynaecological disorders. Untreated Celiac Disease has also been linked an increased risk of certain types of cancer, especially intestinal lymphoma. If a gluten free diet is followed the villi of the small intestine are not permanently damaged. The intestine renews itself every three days. Therefore, if the damage is exclusively due to Coeliacs Disease, the villi will be reformed; however the time this takes will vary between individuals.

Treating it Naturally

Holistic Treatment could significantly improve Coeliac Disease symptoms and as with other autoimmune diseases such as osteoarthritis. The only medically approved treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet and supplementation with iron, folic acid and calcium. Research has indicated a link between formula feeding and Coeliac Disease, combined with the early introduction of gluten grains into a child’s diet . In one study, children who were breast-fed for less than 30 days were four times more likely to develop celiac disease, compared with children who were breast-fed for more than 30 days.

Although this study does not prove that breast-feeding prevents the development of celiac disease, it is consistent with other research showing that breast-feeding promotes a healthier gastrointestinal tract than does formula-feeding. A baby’s immature digestive system is more porus and it is believed that undigested protein molecules of food can pass inot the blood streem causing allergic reactions. This is also the time when the Thymus gland is most active and is responsible for the programming of the body’s immune system – identifying which cells belong to the body and should not be attacked. As an autoimmune condition this programming has become faulty, or in some cases was not programmed correctly in the first place. In this case prevention maybe the key!

Alternative treatments could include herbs such as slippery elm, marshmallow, camomile, agrimony, horsetail, burdock or papain. Research indicates that papain - an extract of papaya, which is available as a supplement - may break down the gluten so that it does no harm. It will also be necessary to supplement with vitamins and minerals due to the malabsorption that occurs in celiac disease can lead to multiple nutritional deficiencies. The most common nutritional problems in people with celiac disease include deficiencies of essential fatty acids, iron, vitamin D, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, and folic acid. Zinc malabsorption also occurs frequently in celiac disease and may result in zinc deficiency, even in people who are otherwise in remission. To promote the rate of nutrient assimilation within the body as well as to improve the overall absorption rate, supplements of digestive enzymes that digest gluten, could be taken on a regular basis as an initial approach to the treatment of the condition.

Most symptoms of celiac disease are partially brought about by a lack of vitamin B6 within the body because of poor absorption from the diet. In addition to these measures, supplements of the vitamin C along with bioflavonoids can be consumed to improve resistance to celiac disease and its related symptoms. All kinds of inflammations in the gastrointestinal tract will be reduced and soothed through supplements of silica and aloe vera taken on a regular basis by the person.

After commencement of a gluten-free diet, overall nutritional status gradually improves. However, deficiencies of some nutrients may persist, even in people who are strictly avoiding gluten. For example, magnesium deficiency was found in 8 of 23 adults with celiac disease who had been following a gluten-free diet and were symptom-free. When these adults were supplemented with magnesium for two years, their bone mineral density increased significantly.