In simple terms, gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye and barley. When gluten reacts with water, it becomes a sticky, glue-like substance, which makes dough stretchy and gives bread its chewy texture. For the average person, eating gluten does not cause weight loss; however, for the one in every 133 people in the United States who suffers from celiac disease, eating gluten results in weight loss, reports the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research.
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is a lifelong medical condition classified as an autoimmune disease. The disease occurs as a result of the right mix of genes and an environmental trigger -- the gluten. When a person with celiac disease consumes gluten, the immune system releases specific antibodies that attack the cells lining the small intestine. The destruction of the intestinal lining leads to a variety of symptoms, including weight loss.
Intestinal Reactions
The body absorbs the majority of the nutrients and energy from food through the upper portion of the small intestine. The small intestine efficiently performs this function, because it contains millions of tiny, fingerlike projections known as villi, which increase the surface area and absorption. In cases of celiac disease, the antibodies released during the autoimmune reaction destroy the villi, which decreases the ability of the small intestine to absorb nutrients. Many adults suffer from celiac disease for decades without experiencing any noticeable symptoms. Often, unexplained weight loss is the first noticeable sign of the condition that prompts the patient to seek medical attention.
Symptoms
Symptoms of celiac disease vary from person to person. The common symptoms occur as a result of malabsorption due to the damage in the small intestine. Patients suffer weight loss because the body fails to absorb the nutrients and calories from food. Fatigue -- a feeling of extreme tiredness that fails to resolve with rest -- is also a common symptom. Many patients develop chronic diarrhea often accompanied by excessive gas and bloating. Because patients fail to absorb essential vitamins and minerals, they can develop anemia, tingling in the hands and feet, depression, anxiety and hormone imbalances that contribute to fertility problems.
Treatment
Doctors classify celiac disease as an autoimmune disease, not as a food allergy; this means you cannot outgrow celiac disease. No cure is yet available for the disease, and the only treatment involves a lifelong commitment to eating a gluten-free diet. By removing all gluten from your diet, you remove the environmental trigger and stop the autoimmune response. Consuming a gluten-free diet involves much more than removing bread from your meals. Many processed foods contain ingredients derived from wheat, rye or barley, and gluten is a common hidden ingredient. Some prescription medications even contain gluten as one of the fillers to add bulk to pills. Once you make the commitment and remove all gluten from your diet, you will likely experience relief from your symptoms, get more energy and stop losing weight.
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