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:
    Where Your Contribution Counts!
    eNewsletter
    Support Us!
  • Record is Archived

    This article is now archived and is closed to further replies.

    Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    Five Important Things You May Not Know About Celiac Disease

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Celiac.com 05/15/2015 - People with celiac disease need to maintain constant vigilance against gluten-exposure. Even those celiacs who avoid gluten need to be on guard against nutritional deficiencies, and to check with their doctor when taking certain drugs.

    Photo: CC--locomininosHere are five important things to remember about celiac disease:

    1. Tiny Amounts of Gluten Trigger Big Reactions
      For people with celiac disease, exposure to as little as 30 to 50 mg of gluten (about 1/50th the size of a slice of bread) on any given day can trigger damage to the mucosal lining of the small intestine.
    2. Nutritional Deficiencies are Common
      Many people with celiac disease, even those who avoid gluten, suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Doctors recommend that people with celiac disease be monitored regularly for nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamins A, D, E, and B12, carotene, copper, iron, folic acid, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. Doctors recommend vitamin and mineral supplementation, as needed.
    3. Bone Loss and Weakness are Common
      People with celiac disease should receive regular screening for osteopenia or osteoporosis. If needed, they should receive calcium supplements to ensure that they are getting the recommended dietary allowance for calcium.
    4. Nutritional and Drug Malabsorption are Common
      Gluten reactions cause inflammation in the small-intestine and, over time, damage that decreases absorption of common dietary nutrients, and likely promotes malabsorption of oral drugs or medicines, as well. That’s why it’s important for people with celiac disease to be monitored for proper drug and nutritional levels, and to receive supplements as needed.
    5. Celiac Disease Can Impair the Effectiveness of Certain Drugs
      Based on their molecular properties, drugs currently under investigation for their absorption characteristics in gluten sensitivity include acetaminophen, aspirin, indomethacin, levothyroxine, prednisolone, propranolol, and certain antibiotics. Please check with your doctor before taking any of these drugs.


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Guest Vicky Ferguson RD CDE

    Posted

    Great article. I plan to give to all my clients newly diagnosed with celiac so they "get" why it is important.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Paula

    Posted

    Along with bone loss and weakness comes frequent fractures. My daughter who was diagnosed @ 7 years old (but had tummy problems since introducing solids as a baby). Her bones are unusually weak and has had 6 fractures already - mostly to the smaller/accessory bones. Her long bones seem to have taken all the calcium & D. Her most recent fracture was the scaphoid in her wrist - her doctor can't remember anytime in his career where a child has a fractured scaphoid.. She is on high-dose supplement for severe vitamin D deficiency.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest shirl
    Along with bone loss and weakness comes frequent fractures. My daughter who was diagnosed @ 7 years old (but had tummy problems since introducing solids as a baby). Her bones are unusually weak and has had 6 fractures already - mostly to the smaller/accessory bones. Her long bones seem to have taken all the calcium & D. Her most recent fracture was the scaphoid in her wrist - her doctor can't remember anytime in his career where a child has a fractured scaphoid.. She is on high-dose supplement for severe vitamin D deficiency.

    I am 70 years old and was diagnosed with celiac at 62. I feel like I have had it since I was about 12 years old. I had no symptoms, seemed to thrive on wheat, and had what seemed to be a perfectly function digestive system. My rheumatologist diagnosed it on a hunch. I was being treated for fibromyalgia and the more meds they gave me the worse my pain got. He ran some blood tests and I was off the charts in the celiac tests and had a severe Vitamin D deficiency. Going gluten free has made the fibromyalgia go away. What I have is celiac disease, Hasimotos Thyroiditis, osteo arthritis, and seasonal allergies and allergies to cats, some trees and some medicines. I do best on a simple diet, but still have many very bad mornings and usually can't go anywhere until about 10 or 11am. It has improved however because early after diagnosis, I had the same problems after dinner most nights. I don't go to many restaurants because of cross contamination.

    I would advise a simple diet of meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts if tolerated, lactose free milk or Almond/Coconut milk and plenty of water. During the fall apples are fresh and I like to have a large apple with peanut-coconut spread for lunch. I don't get sick if I eat an apple every day. Now I'm trying broccoli with a little cheese. Sometimes I make smoothies and use frozen and fresh fruit I like and a dab of raw honey if it needs more sweetness and I make my own plain yogurt and add a cup to it. It's refreshing, healthy and seems like a milkshake without the bad. Blend with a little ice and she will love it.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Guest
    This is now closed for further comments

  • 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 06/25/2014 - Chefs can be instrumental in guaranteeing a gluten-free dining experience for people with celiac disease. However, otherwise competent and well-meaning chefs can get some basic things wrong about gluten-free food for people with celiac disease, including:
    1) The Culprits are Wheat, Rye and Barley
    Did you know that, in addition to avoiding anything made with wheat, or wheat flour, people with celiac disease can’t eat anything made with rye or barley?
    In a 2012 quiz, fewer than half of the chefs at a major culinary event could name a grain, other than wheat, that was harmful to people with celiac disease. So, it’s rye and barley, in addition to wheat. Got it?
    2) Cross-contamination is a Real Problem
    The tiniest amounts of gluten, anything over 20 ...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - Scott Adams replied to Braver101's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Constant sweating with celiac disease

    2. - Scott Adams replied to Julie Riordan's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      2

      Any ideas for travelling

    3. - trents replied to Julie Riordan's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      2

      Any ideas for travelling

    4. - trents replied to Braver101's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Constant sweating with celiac disease

    5. - Julie Riordan posted a topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      2

      Any ideas for travelling


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,489
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Ronnieb8675
    Newest Member
    Ronnieb8675
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • JustGemi
    • Linedancegal
    • Hannah24
      9
    • jessiemariecar
    • Rhonda H
  • Popular Articles

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

×
×
  • Create New...