Diet for People with Celiac Disease

Alternate Names : Celiac Sprue, Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy, Nontropical Sprue

Celiac disease is a chronic digestive disorder that affects the small intestine. It can begin at any stage of life, from infancy through adulthood. The disease varies in severity from person to person. People with celiac disease have an intolerance or a reaction to gliadin, which is a component of gluten. Gluten and gliadin are found in several common grains.

Information

Diet is an important part of treating this condition. A person with celiac disease is put on a gluten-restricted, gliadin-free diet. If he or she is very careful, most vitamin and mineral levels will return to normal without supplementation.

Food to avoid are any products made with wheat, rye, and, sometimes, oats and barley. These starches are found in many flours and thickening agents. Many processed foods also have hidden sources of gluten and gliadin. People with celiac disease should learn to read food labels to look for hidden gliadin-containing ingredients. Foods such as corn, rice, soybeans, chickpeas, tapioca, arrowroot, and potatoes are eaten instead. It also can be helpful to cut back on lactose, a milk sugar found in most dairy products.

A person with this disease may need to supplement his or her diet with vitamin and minerals, including calcium and vitamin D, and electrolyte and fluid replacement.

The cause of celiac disease is not completely known. One theory suggests that it is due to a missing or poorly functioning enzyme of the immune system. Other theories suggest it may be genetic. Recovery from this disease may take as long as 6 months to several years on a gliadin-free diet. After this time, symptoms will largely disappear and the small intestine will return to normal.

People with celiac disease must also be careful that gliadin foods do not come into contact with other foods during preparation. This can easily happen in the cases of shared utensils, cutting boards, or containers. This problem can make eating out hard for those with the disease.

The good news is that people with celiac are not alone. There are many groups that provide resources for these people and their families. There are also more choices today than ever before for gluten-free foods. At one time, people with celiac disease had to make many of their own foods. They commonly made bread from potato flour and cereals from non-gluten grains. Now there are large food companies that produce pasta, breads, and cereals made from gluten-free grains. In many cases, these foods are available through mail order.

These organizations can provide information and resources: