Celiac disease: When the body goes against the grain
"Celiac" comes from the Latin word for abdomen, but this digestive disease can cause symptoms throughout the body.
Wheat-based foods — from a bagel for breakfast to pasta for dinner — are a dietary staple for many people. But for a person with celiac disease, nibbling even a crumb of toast can spell trouble. Celiac disease (also known as celiac sprue) is an inherited intolerance to gluten, the sticky protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. For people with this condition, eating gluten can trigger immune system attacks that may ravage the lining of the small intestine, causing symptoms that include abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea, and fatigue. Because the injured intestine can't adequately absorb vital nutrients (such as iron, calcium, and vitamin D), untreated celiac disease can lead to iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, lactose intolerance (the inability to digest or absorb lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products), and other problems.
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