Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye as well as the products derived from these sources. Gluten intolerance is the primary condition associated with celiac disease, a disorder that affects 1 in 133 Americans. The disease causes a wide range of symptoms due to its effects on the digestive system. Nutrient deficiencies are common in causes of untreated and long-term celiac disease. Dietary supplementation can help counter these conditions as part of a treatment program and help prevent some of the complications of celiac disease.
Effects of Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance manifests itself in the human body through effects in the digestive system, especially in children and adolescents. Eating gluten causes the body to attack the villi of the small intestine. The villi increase the surface of which it can absorb nutrients. Gluten intolerance or celiac disease is diagnosed with a blood test that detects the antibodies that attack gluten. A positive test is often followed by a biopsy of the small intestine to detect intestinal damage.
Need for Supplementation
Most nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine, making the impacts of gluten intolerance widespread in the body. The only known treatment option is to eliminate gluten from your diet. If you still consume gluten-containing foods, your body's ability to absorb nutrients becomes impaired and can lead to malnutrition. Celiac disease patients are at high risk of deficiencies in vitamins D and K as well as other vital nutrients.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is unique in that some of the body's reserves are produced by intestinal bacteria. Untreated celiac disease patients are at risk for vitamin K deficiencies due to the effects of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with their condition. Deficiencies can impair the clotting capacity of the blood, leading to a dangerous risk of excessive bleeding. Vitamin K is also essential for cell growth and bone mineralization, adding further health risks to a deficiency caused by gluten intolerance.
Vitamin D
Another health risk associated with celiac disease is vitamin D deficiency. One symptoms of this condition is steatorrhea or fatty stools, leading to excess loss of fats. Deficiencies in vitamin D and calcium can occur as a result, warns MayoClinic.com. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus. It also plays a role in cell growth, immune and nervous systems function. The risk of these nutrient deficiencies underscores the need for proper management of celiac disease.
References
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Prevalence of Celiac Disease in At-Risk and Not-At-Risk Groups in the United States; A. Fasano, et al.; February 2003
- Celiac Disease Foundation: Celiac Disease Symptoms
- Lab Tests Online; Celiac Disease - Tests; July 11, 2011
- Celiac Disease Foundation: Celiac Disease Diagnosis
- MayoClinic.com; Celiac Disease - Complications; December 11, 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin K; Victoria J. Drake; May 2008
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