Celiac disease, which is characterized by intolerance to gluten, can cause symptoms in infants with this disorder once they start eating cereal because they are reacting to the gluten protein that the cereal contains. Adults with celiac disease will also have symptoms and may even be lactose intolerant due to complications from exposure to gluten.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a hereditary disease that affects approximately one out of every 113 people, according to Henry Binder, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Yale University in “Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.” Also called celiac sprue, nontropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy, the cause of this disease is still unknown. Scientists suspect it involves genetics, the immune system and the environment. The typical symptoms associated with this disease may start as early as the first year of life. Other people may not have any symptoms until adulthood, while many do not have any symptoms at all.
Disease Development
If you have celiac disease, then the gluten protein in rye, barley and wheat are partially broken down to peptides, but the peptides accumulate and damage the lining of the small intestines. In addition, some of the peptides activate the white blood cells of the immune system, as explained in “Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Endoscopy” by Jerry Trier, M.D., Senior Physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The immune system mistakenly attacks the peptides, instead of only attacking foreign substances, and adds to the intestinal damage. This can lead to abdominal discomfort, gas, weight loss and diarrhea.
Lactose Intolerance
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, an estimated 30 to 50 million people have this medical condition. Normally, there is an enzyme -- a protein that causes chemical reactions -- in the small intestines that is used to break down lactose. Lactose is a sugar that is found in dairy products. The enzyme needed to break down lactose is called lactase. If you are lactose intolerant, then you do not have enough lactase enzyme. This may be due to genetics, or the result of a small intestinal disease or injury. Lactose intolerance can cause gas, cramps, watery diarrhea and bloating.
Gluten Sensitivity and Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance due to a genetic disorder is called a primary lactase deficiency. If you are lactose intolerant because of an injury or disease in your small intestines, then you have a secondary lactase deficiency. Celiac disease can cause a secondary lactase deficiency because it is a disease that affects the small intestines. In the March 2005 issue of “Digestion,” Veronica Ojetti wrote about a research study to determine how many people who are lactose intolerant also have celiac disease, or gluten sensitivity. Out of the 54 people in the study who had symptoms of lactose intolerance, the researchers determined that 24 percent had celiac disease.
References
- “Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endoscopy”; N. Greenberger, M.D.; 2009
- “Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2011”; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2011
- “Digestion”; High Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Patients With Lactose Intolerance; V. Ojetti; 2005
- “Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine”; Dan Longo, M.D., Dennis Kasper, M.D., et al.; 2012
- “Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide”; Judith Tintinalli, M.D., et al.; 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Digestive Disorders - Lactose Intolerance
