Problems absorbing nutrients are a hallmark of untreated celiac disease, and once the disease is diagnosed, it is important to ensure you are consuming adequate amounts of necessary nutrients. Calcium is an important nutrient to help keep bones strong and healthy, as well as for proper conduction of nerve impulses and muscle contractions. If you have celiac disease, talk with your doctor about your calcium intake and how to prevent malnutrition due to malabsorption problems.
Celiac Disease
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, one out of 133 people in the United States has celiac disease, also known as gluten sensitive enteropathy. The small intestine becomes inflamed when gluten is ingested by an individual with the condition. Gluten is found in wheat, rye and barley. The disease is not an allergy to gluten or a food allergy but an autoimmune disorder; individuals do not grow out of celiac disease, as is sometimes the case with food allergies. The skin manifestation of celiac disease, called dermatitis herpetiformis, is blistering, itchy skin. There is no cure, and the only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet for the rest of your life.
Malabsorption and Celiac Disease
When individuals with celiac disease ingest gluten, an autoimmune reaction occurs that damages villi in the intestines, impairing the intestines' absorption capacity. Villi are projections in the intestines that enable absorption of nutrients through the small intestine into the bloodstream; and without healthy villi, people become malnourished, explains the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Without healthy villi, people cannot absorb enough calcium to keep bones healthy.
Treating Calcium Deficiency in Celiac Disease
Many individuals with celiac disease have diminished bone density, which increases the risk of fractures. According to the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, individuals with celiac disease should have bone density measured at the wrist, spine and hip. Vitamin D may need to be administered, especially if parathyroid hormone levels are low. Regular intake of calcium supplements that contain vitamin D, along with adherence to a gluten-free diet, can increase bone density in celiac patients. Medications like Fosamax should not be used unless bone density does not improve with supplements and a proper diet. Talk with your doctor about your bone density results and what you can do to help keep your bones healthy.
Considerations
If you have celiac disease, following a gluten-free diet is crucial for staying healthy and absorbing necessary nutrients, including calcium. Have your bone density checked at diagnosis, and schedule regular bone density checks to ensure you are absorbing enough calcium. Talk with your doctor about the amount of calcium and vitamin D you should be taking and about any other steps you can take to help build up your bone density.
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