Celiac disease (coeliac or gluten intolerance) is defined as a permanent intolerance to gluten. It damages the small intestine but resolves whenever gluten is removed from the diet. Thus, it is a food sensitivity specific to gluten.
Most common sources of the gluten are wheat, barley, rye and few other grains. But not oats (unless contamination during processing).
When the gluten from these foods comes into contact with inner lining of small intestine, it causes inflammation and damage to the absorptive surface. Hence, a compromised surface reduces fluid secretion, mal-absorption, and destruction of the small intestine’s lining.
This damage to the intestine causes lower absorption of fat and micro-nutrients, e.g., iron, folate (B9), and fat-soluble vitamins from the foods. They all end up in stool without being absorbed. This can cause serious malnutrition.
More from our health blogs:
Genetic Testing and Disease Inheritability – role of genetics on health.
Food Sensitivity – Allergy, Intolerance, and Celiac Disease.
Diurnal Salivary Cortisoll – Risk Factors
The immediate effects of celiac disease include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, and mouth sores. Many other symptoms are often observed. These may include:
Long term impacts include
These symptoms may not always be as clearly visible. Yet, the inner lining of small intestine may be completely damaged. Fortunately the problem resolves upon removal of gluten from the diet and re-appears on re-introduction.
The main culprit in celiac is gluten from wheat, rye, barley, and the wheat-rye hybrid triticale.
Broadly speaking, many celiac disease-activating proteins are called “gluten”.
However, strictly speaking, gluten is the scientific name for the disease-activating proteins only in wheat.
Gluten in wheat has two major protein fractions called gliadins and glutenins. Both of these contain the celiac-activating proteins. In fact, wheat, rye, and barley are related in their origin.
The equivalent closely related proteins in barley and rye are hordeins and secalins, respectively.
One theory is that large chunks of proteins inside the small intestine remain without fully digesting. They do not break down into smaller peptide ingredients. Thus, these undigested peptides cross the intestinal lining where they find the appropriate pathways to react.
Oats are rare to cause celiac, although they often contaminate during processing. Oats are more distantly related and the equivalent proteins, called avenins. They are extremely rare to cause celiac, especially in moderation.
Rice, corn, sorghum, Job’s tears, millet, and tef are even more distantly related and not known to cause celiac.
Testing for gluten intolerance can be a long arduous process. Celiac may be complicated to diagnose as symptoms may never show. And it may take weeks or months of gluten-free diet to become free of symptoms.
Four out of these five key conditions are necessary for celiac confirmation as part of serological screening:
No.
One needs to be positive for certain genes to develop gluten intolerance as almost 100% cases of celiac have DQ2 or DQ8 genes.
Not everyone testing positive may have celiac, but certain genes are necessary to develop the intolerance. That’s because they produce antibodies that bind to gluten and cause the inflammation. And almost 40% of the western population has DQ2 or DQ8 genes but only about 1% have celiac.
Almost 50% of first relatives are affected and a genetic test for DQ2 or DQ8 genes can help assess their risk. Celiac is almost twice more prevalent in women than men.
Children under the age of 3 years disproportionally show the symptoms as they first come in contact of gluten after weaning. The symptoms may be difficult to diagnose at this age making the situation worse.
Celiac may not show any symptoms at all.
In fact, experts believe only about 1 in 100 people are correctly diagnosed for multiple reasons. Symptoms may not always be clear and often overlap with other conditions. They may require multiple steps for final diagnosis which may not be guaranteed.
It may be difficult for some people to recognize that wheat, the main ingredient in their diet, can cause such a life threatening condition.
The following three key steps demonstrate how genes affect celiac:
Several other findings shed light on this pre-disposition:
Celiac clusters around families, suggesting a strong genetic bias.
Absence of certain genes can preclude any risk of celiac, although positive test may not always mean positive for celiac.
Almost 50% of first relatives may be positive and a genetic test for DQ2 or DQ8 genes can help assess their risk.
A history of genetic dependence of celiac tells a clear story of family dependence:
It is not clear why some people do not have gluten intolerancedespite genetic pre-disposition.
Because genes, environment, and foods with gluten play a complex role in celiac, it may not always be possible to fully appreciate the roles of individual contributor.
It is also possible that despite having celiac, the symptoms may never be clearly visible.
Often a biopsy may be the only method to assess the damage to intestinal wall but may not be available without signs of symptoms.
Celiac is an under-diagnosed condition and only the tip of the ‘celiac iceberg’ show clear symptoms.
Also, the recent westernization of diets across the globe and more awareness allows more people to identify their symptoms.
A simple celiac genetic test with a saliva swab is sufficient to assess the risk.
A 2012 study by the New England Journal of Medicine says, “testing for HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 may be useful in at-risk persons (e.g., family members of a patient with celiac disease)”. Such testing has a “high-negative predictive value, which means that the disease is very unlikely to develop in persons who are negative for both HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8”.
In fact, “Up to 97% of cases”, the HLA phenotypes are prerequisite for celiac.
Another recent study by Mayo Clinic study calls for screening of family members of celiac patients for wider screening to assess the risk.
There is no known cure for celiac.
A lifelong adherence to gluten-free diet is the only known therapy.
A simple celiac swab test can check the genetic risk of celiac disease for those suspecting gluten intolerance even if their symptoms are difficult to observe.
Otherwise, a serological screening is necessary which includes a biopsy of small intestine and a blood test.
Celiac is historically a western disease, however, recent studies show that’s no longer true.
So far, 39 genes have been identified for celiac. However, almost all cases have DQ2 or DQ8 as the main gene responsible for the disease.
The DQ2, DQ8 genes are key to developing the response to gluten sensitivity.
The immune response to gluten happens through activation of T-cells. These cells constantly search for foreign particles and other compromising entities the body. The DQ-gluten complex very effectively activates these T-cells. But both DQ and gluten molecules are necessary for this defense mechanism to start.
Oats are rare to cause celiac, although they often contaminate during processing. In fact, celiac patients are allowed up oats in their diet up to 70 g per day for adults and 25 g for children [Reference: Food Allergy, 4th Edition].
Oats are more distantly related and the gluten-equivalent proteins, called avenins, are extremely rare to cause celiac, especially in moderation.