What is Celiac Sprue?

Celiac Sprue is an autoimmune system disorder that affects the digestive system damaging the small intestine and interfering with absorption of nutrients from food.  Tiny fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine, called villi, which normally absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, are damaged by the gluten protein, gliadin, found in wheat, barley, rye and some oats.  This wheat gluten protein is found in many food products and even in stamp and envelope adhesives, vitamins and medications (as fillers).  It is important to read food labels carefully and talk to your pharmacist. Celiac is also known by names such as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy or gluten intolerance.  Besides being an autoimmune system disorder, it is also classified as a disease of malabsorption.  Celiac is a genetic disease, affecting 5 to 15 percent of immediate offspring, which may become active for the first time after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress.

How is Celiac Diagnosed?

A blood test is needed to test for higher than normal levels of certain auto-antibodies in the blood which react against the body’s own tissues.  Celiac affects people differently and some may have no symptoms, but still be at risk for complications.  It is often difficult to diagnose because many symptoms can be confused with irritable bowel syndrome, iron-deficiency, anemia, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, intestinal infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome.   Symptoms include gas, recurring abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, constipation, pale foul-smelling or fatty stool, weight loss or gain, fatigue, anemia, bone or joint pain, osteoporosis, tooth discoloration, behavioral changes, tingling numbness in the legs from nerve damage, muscle cramps, seizures, delayed growth, mouth ulcers, itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis, irritability and delayed growth in children.

What is Dermatitis Herpetiformis?  

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a manifestation of Celiac disease in the skin resulting in a severe, itchy hive like blistering.  Not everyone with Celiac has the itchy skin blistering and people can have the skin rash without having intestinal symptoms, even though the disease is present. The rash symptoms can be controlled with a medication, dapsone, but you must weigh the side effects especially since both the skin disease and the intestinal disease respond to a gluten free diet. 

What is the treatment?

Celiac Disease responds to a strict gluten free diet.  Healing begins within days and intestinal damage of the villi allowing absorption in the small intestine is usually restored in 3 to 6 months in children and within 2 years for older adults.  Some problems will not improve such as tooth discoloration and delayed growth.  People with Celiac can eat a well balance diet with a variety of foods including gluten free breads and pasta.  Gluten Free Mama’s Best Baking Recipes cookbook has over a 100 gluten free recipes to add variety to the diet, all of which have been tested for performance and taste.  

For more information visit:

An Expert Guide to Living Your Gluten Free Life http://glutenfreelife.co.uk

National Digestive Diseases Information http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/

Celia Disease Foundation www.celiac.org

Celiac Sprue Association/USA Inc. www.csaceliacs.org

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America www.gluten.net

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness www.celiaccentral.org

North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition www.cdhnf.org