| Celiac disease is a disease of the intestinal tract | | | | (large, pale, foul smelling bowel motions), abdominal |
| caused by the presence of gluten in the diet. An | | | | bloating, colic and poor growth. In adults it |
| allergic reaction to the gluten causes a breakdown | | | | manifests as bloating, abdominal pain, alternating |
| in structure of the villi which line the internal | | | | diarrhoea and constipation as well as depression, |
| surface of the small intestine. These small | | | | fatigue and even infertility. Around 1 in 250 people |
| projections normally provide a large surface area | | | | suffer from some form of gluten intolerance. |
| for the absorption of nutrients from digested | | | | It is interesting to note that around 20% of |
| food. In a person with Celiac Disease, however, | | | | celiacs are also lactose intolerant. On exclusion of |
| the inflammatory reaction to gluten in the diet | | | | gluten from the diet some of these people regain |
| reduces the surface area to such an extent that | | | | the ability to tolerate lactose. |
| the absorption of vital nutrients is severely | | | | The only treatment for Celiac Disease is the |
| restricted, resulting in malnutrition and a wide | | | | complete exclusion of gluten from the diet... |
| range of symptoms. | | | | permanently. Although the intestinal lining can |
| Celiac Disease (also known as Coeliac Disease, | | | | completely regenerate the person must stay |
| Celiac Sprue, Non-Tropical Sprue, Ideopathic | | | | clear of gluten for the rest of their lives (there is |
| Steatorrhoea or Gluten-sensitive Enteropathy) is a | | | | no 'cure'). One must be very careful in pursuing a |
| genetically determined allergy to the protein | | | | gluten free diet since apart from the obvious |
| gluten, which is found in a number of closely | | | | sources of wheat, oats, barley and rye, there are |
| related cereal grains (wheat, barley, rye and oats). | | | | many food additives such as flavours, thickeners, |
| Note that there is open debate about whether | | | | sweeteners etc., which include derivatives of |
| some Celiacs can tolerate the gluten derived from | | | | these grains (particularly wheat) in their |
| oats. I will discuss this in another article; but | | | | composition. It is vital to read food labels very |
| generally, if you have just been diagnosed as a | | | | carefully to ensure that there are no gluten |
| Celiac, it is best to avoid all possible sources of | | | | containing ingredients. Preferably look for the |
| gluten. | | | | "Gluten Free" sign on the packaging. |
| Gluten Intolerance is at the mild end of the Celiac | | | | It is still possible to enjoy a wide variety of |
| Disease spectrum. Because of the wide range in | | | | non-gluten foods and there are many great |
| severity of symptoms in individuals it can be really | | | | recipes available. (You will find a range of recipes |
| difficult to distinguish between the two. However | | | | in future articles.) The major difficulty is when |
| since the treatment (complete exclusion of gluten | | | | dining out. Ensure that you check with the waiter |
| from the diet) is the same, the distinction is really | | | | about the exclusion of gluten from your meal. |
| only academic. | | | | With a little care and discipline you can lead a |
| In affected infants who have just been weaned | | | | completely normal life with Celiac Disease. |
| onto cereals, symptoms are commonly diarrhoea | | | | |