Celiac Disease: Gluten-free diet is the treatment

The term allergy means hyper-action of our body's immune system to allergens (mostly proteins or compounds tagged to proteins). Like our skin and respiratory tract, our digestive tract (intestines) can also be hypersensitive to some constituents of food. Celiac disease is a disorder of the digestive system which is caused by intolerance/allergy to a protein called gluten. People with celiac disease can not tolerate gluten. The disease is partially genetic and inherited. Parents, siblings and children of people with celiac disease may also have/be having this disease. Celiac disease damages the inner lining of the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. The cause of celiac disease is the immunological allergic reaction to gluten present in food that causes inflammation and damages the inner border (microvilli) of small intestine. Figure-1 below shows the ultrastructural changes at the inner lining of small intestine in a patient affected by Celiac disease. A visual comparison with Figure-2 (Normal inner surface of small intestine) would make you understand the pathological change.

Figure-1: Electron micrograph of biopsy from the small intestine of a patient affected by celiac disease showing eroded microvilli.

Figure-2: Electron micrograph showing normal microvilli at the inner surface of small intestine.

Sources of Gluten

Wheat, barley and rye are the main source of gluten. The gliaden component of gluten causes celiac disease. Some adhesives, medicines and vitamin products, which we use daily, may contain gluten.

Diagnostic symptoms of celiac disease

Some of the typical symptoms of celiac disease are failure to gain weight, diarrhoea, irritability, vomiting, abdominal pain and foul stools, early in infant life. The most common period of presentation and detection of celiac disease is between six months and two years of age. Some children may present with excessive appetite, abdominal distension, wasted muscle, finger clubbing and edema.

Preventive treatment of celiac disease

A gluten-free diet is the only treatment of celiac disease. A person aware of having intolerance to gluten should avoid eating foods containing wheat, barley and rye products. Modern drugs may provide symptomatic relief but ultimate treatment is preventive therapy in celiac disease.

Important Tips

1. Parents of the children with celiac disease have great responsibility to make the children comply with the doctor's instructions for gluten-free diet.


2. Recognizing and avoiding new food products containing wheat, barley or rye is a great challenge and people with celiac disease should be very careful since non-compliance of gluten-free diet may cause relapse.


3. People having celiac disease should take food items prepared from rice and corn only along with fruits, juices and milk products.


4. Reading the contents of grocery items is important before eating because many corn and rice products come from the manufacturers of wheat products.


5. Gluten-free but balanced diet is must for normal growth of the children affected by celiac disease.


6. Medicines coated/laced with gluten products should be avoided.