Vitamin and Mineral Micronutrient Deficiencies Common in Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease (+Video)

Celiac.com 09/08/2025 - This study explored how adults with newly diagnosed celiac disease often suffer from imbalanced levels of vitamins and trace elements. Researchers compared 59 celiac patients to 59 healthy individuals of similar age, gender, and ethnicity. They measured 17 different vitamins and 10 trace elements in blood samples, along with basic health indicators like body mass index, albumin, and hemoglobin. The goal was to understand how nutrient deficiencies or excesses may relate to disease severity and intestinal damage in celiac patients.

Who Was Involved in the Study

All participants were either newly diagnosed celiac disease patients or healthy individuals who matched in age, gender, and ethnic background. The study excluded anyone with serious chronic diseases, recent supplement use, or organ dysfunction to ensure accurate results. The celiac patients were diagnosed using widely accepted medical guidelines, which included blood tests and examination of small intestinal tissue.

How Micronutrients Were Measured

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Researchers used a highly accurate method called liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to measure the levels of vitamins and trace elements in blood samples. The tested vitamins included fat-soluble ones like A, D, E, and K, as well as water-soluble types such as B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. For trace elements, the study analyzed iron, copper, zinc, selenium, calcium, and others that are critical for health.

Key Findings on Nutrient Levels

The study revealed that people with newly diagnosed celiac disease had notably lower levels of many important nutrients when compared to healthy individuals. These included vitamins A, E, and K2, along with B6, B7, and the trace element zinc. In fact, over 85 percent of celiac patients were deficient in vitamin A. About one-third were low in vitamin E, and over one-quarter had low vitamin K2 (MK-7). Zinc deficiency was also common.

Surprisingly, the study found that vitamin B3 and the trace element chromium were higher than normal in celiac patients. Around 75 percent had too much vitamin B3 in their system, compared to just over half of healthy participants. This suggests that not all nutrient issues in celiac disease involve deficiency—some may involve excessive levels, possibly due to how the body processes nutrients during inflammation.

How Nutrient Imbalance Relates to Disease Severity

The research team found a direct link between the severity of intestinal damage and levels of certain nutrients. For instance, patients with more advanced intestinal tissue damage had significantly lower levels of vitamin C, iron, and calcium. Additionally, higher levels of a specific antibody (tTG-IgA), which signals immune response in celiac disease, were associated with lower levels of vitamins D and E.

Another key finding was that patients who had traditional digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea and weight loss, had more severe drops in vitamin A than those whose symptoms were not focused on the digestive system.

What This Means for Newly Diagnosed Patients

When someone is first diagnosed with celiac disease, doctors usually focus on removing gluten from the diet. However, this study highlights that more needs to be done. Many of these patients are already suffering from serious vitamin and mineral imbalances that could affect their healing and long-term health if not corrected early on.

Specifically, it is recommended that patients get tested for vitamins A, E, K1, K2, B6, B7, and minerals like iron and zinc. These are the nutrients most likely to be missing or out of balance due to inflammation in the gut, which disrupts how the body absorbs them from food.

Why This Study Matters

For people with celiac disease, untreated nutrient deficiencies can lead to complications such as anemia, poor immune function, bone weakness, and fatigue. By identifying which vitamins and minerals are most often affected at the time of diagnosis, doctors can begin correcting these issues sooner. This helps patients recover faster, feel better, and avoid long-term problems. The study also shows that some patients may even have unusually high levels of certain nutrients, which could require different forms of monitoring or treatment.

Overall, the findings emphasize the importance of looking beyond just gluten when treating celiac disease. Nutritional care should be part of the initial diagnosis and management plan to ensure full recovery and a better quality of life.

Read more at: nature.com

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