Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Help Celiac.com:
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    What Are the Most Common Vitamin Deficiencies in Celiac Disease Patients?

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.
    What Are the Most Common Vitamin Deficiencies in Celiac Disease Patients? - Photo: CC--Shannon Kringen
    Caption: Photo: CC--Shannon Kringen

    Celiac.com 05/11/2015 - Many people with celiac disease know that gluten exposure can cause gut damage and trouble absorbing some vitamins and minerals, which can lead to serious deficiencies. However, even celiac who follow gluten-free diets may experience similar issues, including impaired vitamin and mineral absorption.

    The most common vitamin and mineral deficiencies in celiac patients include the following vitamins and minerals:

    1. B vitamins, especially B12
    2. Vitamin A
    3. Vitamin D
    4. Vitamin E
    5. Vitamin K
    6. Iron
    7. Calcium
    8. Carotene
    9. Copper
    10. Folic acid
    11. Magnesium
    12. Selenium
    13. Zinc

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    As a result, patients with celiac disease can develop iron-deficiency anemia, including a type that resists oral iron supplementation, and may also develop osteoporosis and osteopenia due to bone loss resulting from decreased calcium and vitamin D absorption.

    For these reasons, it is important that patients with celiac disease be monitored regularly to ensure that they have proper levels of vitamins and minerals in their bodies.

    Source:

    •  Open Original Shared Link


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Guest Joanne Verwey

    Posted

    I would value such monitored statistics. This seemingly small step in overall wellness is beyond my current realities however. My General Practitioner refused my interest in a blood analysis of mineral & vitamin levels. She being the first authority I turned to seeking advice on my celiac symptoms. Ushering me out of her office, her extensive education provided her with this summary, "just follow the Canada Food Guide".

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Anne

    Posted

    Celiacs certainly may have vitamin deficiencies but the solution is not always to add supplements to one's diet. I recently tried adding vitamin B12; my reaction was similar to adding gluten to my diet. My symptoms disappeared within two days of stopping the supplement. I discovered that celiacs do not absorb a B12 supplement. (It was labeled gluten free.) I wish there was more discussion regarding how celiacs can safely compensate for potential vitamin deficiencies.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Nicole

    Posted

    My experience with doctors is "follow the gluten-free diet." No follow-up. Thankfully my kids' doctors want follow-up with lab work. Kids hate it but my oldest still struggles with deficiencies after nearly six years gluten-free and despite supplementation (diagnosed when he was 4).

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Margaret

    Posted

    Celiacs certainly may have vitamin deficiencies but the solution is not always to add supplements to one's diet. I recently tried adding vitamin B12; my reaction was similar to adding gluten to my diet. My symptoms disappeared within two days of stopping the supplement. I discovered that celiacs do not absorb a B12 supplement. (It was labeled gluten free.) I wish there was more discussion regarding how celiacs can safely compensate for potential vitamin deficiencies.

    I get Vit B12 injections once a month, at my doctors office. It is a prescription of straight Vit B12, no chance of a gluten reaction. I have been getting it since I was diagnosed 9 years ago. I quit taking it once, got so tired, felt like I was gonna fall asleep standing up. Since then haven't stopped getting it, it gives me energy, and makes me feel half normal.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Jefferson

    Posted

    Celiacs certainly may have vitamin deficiencies but the solution is not always to add supplements to one's diet. I recently tried adding vitamin B12; my reaction was similar to adding gluten to my diet. My symptoms disappeared within two days of stopping the supplement. I discovered that celiacs do not absorb a B12 supplement. (It was labeled gluten free.) I wish there was more discussion regarding how celiacs can safely compensate for potential vitamin deficiencies.

    Good point! I use a liquid form of B-12 with no issues.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Wallace Noll

    Posted

    Celiacs certainly may have vitamin deficiencies but the solution is not always to add supplements to one's diet. I recently tried adding vitamin B12; my reaction was similar to adding gluten to my diet. My symptoms disappeared within two days of stopping the supplement. I discovered that celiacs do not absorb a B12 supplement. (It was labeled gluten free.) I wish there was more discussion regarding how celiacs can safely compensate for potential vitamin deficiencies.

    That is very interesting about the Vitamin B12 shot. I am in the same category as Nicole in that there is no way my doctors would do anything like that.

     

    I find that raw foods and juicing really helps me a lot.

     

    I have a lower quality insurance company, actually a medicaid company, and so with my doctors they have to be dragged kicking and screaming just to give me any tests at all. follow-up, no that is not an option. monitoring of my ability to absorb, no that is an exotic thing unavailable.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Debi

    B12 injections do not work here on the NHS in England as they contain the wrong type of B12. I was so low on B12 I nearly died, was told I had to have B12 injections and I said, are the injections the same as the tablets you put me on, they said yes, and I said, what's the point the tablets didn't work so why would the injection!? So I did my research (around the world on the net from 1960 to present day, took me 9 hours) and found a B12 spray that you spray onto your tongue. My doctor said she could not prescribe it as the NHS wouldn't fund it!!?? Yet would fund an injection every month????? Anyway, I have been using it for the last 5 years and my B12 is now 800, instead of being 100. Do your research folks.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest admin
    B12 injections do not work here on the NHS in England as they contain the wrong type of B12. I was so low on B12 I nearly died, was told I had to have B12 injections and I said, are the injections the same as the tablets you put me on, they said yes, and I said, what's the point the tablets didn't work so why would the injection!? So I did my research (around the world on the net from 1960 to present day, took me 9 hours) and found a B12 spray that you spray onto your tongue. My doctor said she could not prescribe it as the NHS wouldn't fund it!!?? Yet would fund an injection every month????? Anyway, I have been using it for the last 5 years and my B12 is now 800, instead of being 100. Do your research folks.

    B12 is listed as the number 1 deficiency???

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Shar
    B12 injections do not work here on the NHS in England as they contain the wrong type of B12. I was so low on B12 I nearly died, was told I had to have B12 injections and I said, are the injections the same as the tablets you put me on, they said yes, and I said, what's the point the tablets didn't work so why would the injection!? So I did my research (around the world on the net from 1960 to present day, took me 9 hours) and found a B12 spray that you spray onto your tongue. My doctor said she could not prescribe it as the NHS wouldn't fund it!!?? Yet would fund an injection every month????? Anyway, I have been using it for the last 5 years and my B12 is now 800, instead of being 100. Do your research folks.

    Sounds like a new doctor is needed when they won't even write the prescription for you, regardless of who pays.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    NNowak

    I’ve dealt with daily headaches and migraines 15 days out of the month since I had HELLP syndrome with my 7th pregnancy (4th live birth) in 2006. Since then I can’t keep weight on, have balance issues and chronic pain as a result of a fall on my steps fracturing 4 vertebrae and 2 ribs. My PC ran some labs and declared everything is awesome!!  My health history clearly states celiac, and family pernicious anemia and hemochromatosis. 2 years later I had to return to her office so she would renew my prescriptions. At this time she insinuated I was underweight on purpose, to which I reminded her I haven’t felt well for years. Her “nutritional counseling” consisted of telling me to force feed myself. She ordered labs and I reminded her I wanted to be screened for pernicious anemia and hemochromatosis. The labs came back with 0 folate and low B12. I was ordered to take Folate for 90 days and my labs would be rerun. She refused to listen when I told her I couldn’t take vitamins because of the reaction and also I clearly had malabsorption issues. She actually said I had no risk factors for malabsorption - I didn’t have celiac, blah blah........And she refused to run an iron level so I could rule out hemochromatosis. The gastro that took over after my gastro retired refused to run an iron/ferritin test because only women in their 60s are diagnosed. I said my sister was diagnosed in her 30s and grandmother in her 40s. He also felt I had a lot going on, which seemed a bother to him. He didn’t treat folate deficiencies and seemed uninterested with any of my questions. He was 100% certain that if I were “truly following a gluten-free diet” I would not have these problems. 
     

    Since then I’ve had my celiac antibodies return negative and my ferritin levels are extremely high. I’ve had to secure cyanocobalimin on my own to give myself B12 injections.  After the third injection my headache since 2006 completely resolved, my pain improved drastically and the balance issues seem to be improving. The ferritin needs further evaluation due to the severity of hemochromatosis. I’ll give one more gastro a chance to work with me, then I’m going out of state. It is utterly ridiculous for our medical professionals to be so arrogant and ignorant when it comes to celiac. With the presence of one autoimmune disease comes a higher prevalence of companion diseases. After 24 years as a diagnosed celiac, I’m fortunate to be as healthy as I am, but to ignore family history is negligent. I live in Grand Rapids. MI that boasts the best healthcare. 
     

    My point in relaying all of the above is to encourage people to stay on top of your research and know what your treatment options are. After 24 years as a diagnosed celiac I had not had these experiences with medical professionals until now, when I’m clearly in crisis. My sister has had her gallbladder burst, was admitted for an emergency cesarean with her 2nd child because her OB believed she was an alcoholic (hemochromatosis often causes liver disease), had stones blocking her main bile duct in her pancreas (scarring from burst gallbladder) and was even sent home from ER because the gastro didn’t believe the CT scan showing an issue with her pancreas. Her low weight is mentioned EVERY TIME. We have to know what we are dealing with before we go to the doctor. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Peggy Knudson

    Posted

    On 5/18/2015 at 7:16 AM, Guest Anne said:

    Celiacs certainly may have vitamin deficiencies but the solution is not always to add supplements to one's diet. I recently tried adding vitamin B12; my reaction was similar to adding gluten to my diet. My symptoms disappeared within two days of stopping the supplement. I discovered that celiacs do not absorb a B12 supplement. (It was labeled gluten free.) I wish there was more discussion regarding how celiacs can safely compensate for potential vitamin deficiencies.

    So glad to hear that.  I go thru the exact same thing and get the shots now

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Wheatwacked

    Add to the list:

    Potassium: RDA 4700 grams a day. That's around 10- 12 ounce glasses of milk or 15 bananas a day. Estimated 60 to 98 percent of the US population is deficient. Effects Blood Pressure and bone density among other things. Blood tests are not an indicator of status. Supplementing over 100 mg a day can cause intestinal lesions so food source is best. Potassium is the most abundant of all the essential minerals in our bodies, and the minimum for it is 10 times the minimum needed of Sodium (4700 grams K vs. 500 grams Na). On a 2000 calorie diet that is about 2.5 mg Potassium per 1 calorie consumed.

    Lithium: 1 mg to 40 mg a day, Primary source is drinking water and we all drink bottled. Anger management. In myself it reduced the urgency for immediate gratification. A calming effect.

    Choline: 500 mg  to 3500 mg per day. Eggs were a primary source. Deficiency causes disruption of fat processing in the liver and can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Help Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 03/10/2009 - A recent study confirms that B-vitamin supplements are helpful in raising vitamin B6, B12 and folate levels and in reducing homocysteine levels in people with celiac disease.
    Celiac disease is a typical malabsorption syndrome, and is associated with higher rates of numerous deficiencies, including folate and vitamin B12. People with celiac disease face higher rates of Hyperhomocysteinemia than do healthy controls.
    A team of Dutch researchers led by Dr. Muhammed Hadithi recently set out to evaluate the efficacy of daily supplements of vitamin B6, B12 and folate on homocysteine levels in patients with celiac disease.
    The study measured levels of vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, and fasting plasma homocysteine in 51 adults with celiac disease and 50 healthy...


    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 12/09/2013 - People with celiac disease commonly suffer malabsorption, weight loss and vitamin/mineral-deficiencies. A team of researchers recently set out to assess the nutritional and vitamin/mineral status of current “early diagnosed” untreated adult celiac disease patients in the Netherlands.
    The research team included Nicolette J. Wierdsma, Marian A. E. van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren, Marijke Berkenpas, Chris J. J. Mulder, and Ad A. van Bodegraven.
    They are affiliated with the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Department of Gastroenterology at Celiac Centre Amsterdam in VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
    Researchers assessed 80 newly diagnosed adult celiac patients, averaging 42.8 years old, ± 15.1 years. The...


    Melissa Reed
    Celiac.com 08/19/2014 - It is common for many people with celiac disease to have vitamin deficiencies. Eating a wide variety of foods such as meat, fish, eggs and vegetables can assist in with fixing those deficiencies. Children need vitamins to promote growth, development and good immune health. As adults we need them to prevent disease and stay healthy.
    First, including small amounts of free-range, grass-fed beef in the diet will help you recover from iron deficiency. Fresh fish may help lower cholesterol, as it contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Egg whites from free range hens are high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Eating a balanced diet is the best way to receive the daily allowance of vitamins, rather than taking supplements, although many celiacs will also...


    Betty Wedman-St Louis, PhD, RD
    Celiac.com 04/12/2016 - Vitamin B12 is a group of cobalt containing compounds described by Alan R. Gaby, M.D. in Nutritional Medicine called cobalamins. Methylcobalamin is the coenzyme form of B12 that is critical for human health. Hydroxocobalamin is a more stable form of B12 but it first needs to be converted to an active form before use in metabolism.
    Vitamin B12 is important in DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, homocysteine metabolism and the production of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). Adequate B12 is essential for proper neurological and immune function.
    The importance of Vitamin B12 in health and anemia management began during the Depression era when animal protein foods were limited in the American diet. Three physicians who reversed pernicious anemia in dogs were awarded...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - Hannah24 replied to Hannah24's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Negative Test but I have All the Symptoms!

    2. - Hannah24 replied to Hannah24's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Negative Test but I have All the Symptoms!

    3. - trents replied to Linedancegal's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      25 year biopsy confirmed/ate pizza with no ill effects?

    4. - Moodiefoodie replied to Moodiefoodie's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      2

      Joint swelling when ill even on gluten-free diet

    5. - knitty kitty replied to Holly15892's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      7

      Growth spurt after diagnosis in adulthood


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,467
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Tlbaked13
    Newest Member
    Tlbaked13
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • Linedancegal
    • Hannah24
      7
    • jessiemariecar
    • Rhonda H
    • HayleyC123
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...