Celiac Disease Patients Often Require Supplements in Addition to a Gluten Free Diet

Celiac disease involves a severe allergy to gluten (a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, triticale, barley, and oats) which damages the intestinal mucosa and causes digestive malabsorption, diarrhea and digestive discomfort. Celiac disease can also affect other parts of the body including the joints and brain, sometimes symptoms like chronic headaches and chronic fatigue can be present in celiac patients in the absence of obvious digestive problems.  Avoidance of gluten products can often produce major improvements in health.  Some research has indicated that as many as 1% of the population has a severe allergen to gluten containing grains and could greatly benefit from a gluten free diet.

The cornerstone of treatment is the avoidance of gluten containing grains.   Gluten allergic patients should read food labels carefully to see if gluten containing grains have been added to processed foods. 

Celiac patients often have digestive problems even in the absence of gluten in their diets.  Studies have reported that over 50% of celiac patients are deficient in many nutrients such as vitamins D and B12, folate, omega 3 fats, calcium and magnesium.  Many celiac patients can benefit from supplementation with these nutrients.  Many celiac patients lack the enzyme lactase to digest the sugar lactose in milk.  These patients can benefit from a milk free diet, eating yogurt (which has most of the lactose already digested by bacteria), or using lactase enzyme supplements when consuming milk products.  Other research has reported that use of probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium can improve digestion in celiac patients.

A good review of dietary treatment for celiac patients is found in the September 2009 issues of Alternative Medicine Review