The Basics Of Celiac Disease

By Nicole Stevenson
[Health & Your Life]
What common symptoms of gluten allergy can be disguised as other disorders?  Nicole Stevenson sheds some light on celiac disease.
Do you know what you’re allergic to?  Are you sure?  About 1 in 133 Canadians are affected by celiac disease, an allergy to gluten, but symptoms can vary so greatly between individuals and are so similar to the symptoms of other conditions that it can easily go unnoticed.  Sometimes triggered after childbirth, surgery, severe emotional stress or a viral infection, celiac disease can strike at any age and is a lifelong disorder with no cure.  But the outlook for celiac sufferers is good:  the damage, when found early enough, can be reversed and further damage prevented.

What Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when gluten damages the surface of the small intestine, which in turn limits the body’s ability to absorb much-needed nutrients.  Though it is a genetic condition, it is not yet clear whether or not it is hereditary, but an estimated 10 per cent of individuals with celiac may have relatives with the condition.  It can surface at any age and can lead to other conditions.  Because the body is unable to absorb nutrients like vitamins, iron and folic acid, other conditions such as osteoporosis, anemia and depression can result.  Though some celiac sufferers may not experience any symptoms at all, the internal damage is happening nonetheless and will continue to happen unless the individual adheres to a strict gluten-free diet.

Where Is Gluten Hiding?

Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley and rye.  This means that most baked goods, pastas and cereals are chock full of it.  It is gluten that helps the baked goods bind and prevents crumbling, which makes it a prime candidate for many packaged items.  Among other gluten-heavy additives in processed and packaged foods are modified food starch, preservatives and wheat-based stabilizers, which can all add to the destruction of a celiac sufferer’s intestinal lining.  Be wary of rice and corn products as well as they are known to be produced in the same facilities as wheat products and even these trace amounts can affect someone with celiac disease.  Surprisingly, gluten is also found in several non-food products, like lipstick.  Play dough, for example, contains gluten and if consumed (accidentally or not) by an unwitting child with celiac, can trigger symptoms and progress the condition.  Several drugs are also known to contain gluten, and celiac sufferers should always confirm with a pharmacist that both prescription and non-prescription drugs are gluten-free before taking any medication.
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