(Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy or Coeliac Sprue)
Coeliac disease is a condition affecting the small intestine. It is a common condition affecting up to 1 in 100 people in each of the UK, Europe and the USA. Despite this as many as 4 out of 5 people go undiagnosed. Other illnesses/weaknesses can also make you more susceptible. For instance, people with thyroid problems, ulcerative colitis or insulin-dependent diabetes are all at an increased risk of the condition.
Coeliac disease is actually a severe intolerance to gluten. The small intestine becomes damaged as a result of this intolerance. For some the damage may be mild, but progressive, for others it may be severe.
Symptoms can range with the severity of the condition, from tiredness, lethargy and breathlessness, to the more acute signs of weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea. Many patients initially complain of seemingly unrelated symptoms such as psychological problems (e.g. depression), bone pain, mouth ulcers and skin rashes (often on the elbows and knees).
Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye. In common produce it is found in bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries, pasta and breakfast cereals, as well as some alcohol, crisps, chips, cooking oils and oats.
Gluten is made up of two proteins, gliadin and glutenin. When mixed with liquid it turns into a sticky, dough-like substance. It is in this form when it reaches the small intestine (the small bowel). Here a reaction occurs with the immune system whereby it mistakenly attacks the lining of the small intestine as if it were fighting off a foreign organism.
These continual attacks destroy the small intestinal lining, resulting in an inability to properly absorb essential nutrients.
If this condition where left untreated coeliac disease can lead to other severe conditions such as anaemia and bone disease. Even potentially leading to some forms of cancer.
Causes
There are 5 main causative factors:
The immune system - In a malfunctioning immune system, the lymphocytes (T-cells) in the intestines of celiac patients respond specifically to something in gluten. These T-cells and are the cells the immune system calls upon to destroy foreign infection in a normal immune response, but here are also the ones mistakenly employed to destroy the intestinal wall.
The environment - A constant increase in heavy metal pollution and food toxins depletes our immune system and causes sensitivities in the digestive system and faults within bodily processes, such as the immune system.
Nutritional factors - A significant change in nutritional status, such as being on a specific unsupervised diet, means that essential nutrients are often lost from the foods avoided. The body is depleted of these vital elements and cannot function normally. This is most often seen in weight loss diets.
An infection - Any kind of infection can inflame the lymphocytes in the intestine so that they start responding mistakenly to substances like gluten.
Genetics - There is a very particular tissue type that is seen in most coeliacs. The risk of celiac disease is increased within families with this same tissue type.