The celiac disease
When gluten is introduced in the organism of a celiac subject it induces a self-immunizing reaction.
Self immunising means that even a part of the organism, like the intestinal villi, can be attacked and damaged by
the immunitary system.
The result is chronic intestinal malabsorption caused by gluten intolerance.
A too alerted system.
Subjects that are predisposed to the celiac disease have a HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigens) system
which is particularly efficient in protecting them from parasites and external agents; but these defence
systems are deceived by the gluten molecule that simulates the sequence of a virus hostile to mankind.
The HLA system of patients with celiac disease will then activate an out of control, killer reaction, and the
production of an anti-body against the ubiquitary Human Tissutal Transglutaminase.
The gliadin contained in gluten will induce the attack of the killer lymphocytes. These lymphocytes cause
damage to the mucous membrane and destroy the intestinal villi that are necessary for the absorption of
nutritious substances.
Therefore, when a person affected by celiac disease ingests aliments containing gluten, an immunitary
reaction is produced in his/her small intestine, which is damaged and can no longer absorb certain
nourishing substances from food.
The gluten protein is contained in wheat, rye, and in a smaller quantity in barley, oats, spelt, kamut.
Aliments containing gluten are: bread, ‘pasta’, biscuits, pizza and all foods containing wheat, barley, oats, etc.
Rice, maize, Saracen corn, millet, sesame, soya, Indian millet, potatoes, legumes, chestnuts are gluten free.
These aliments allow the production of gluten free meals.
The celiac disease can affect both children and adults.
• In children symptoms are absent until they start eating foods containing gluten;
afterwards they will produce light coloured, ill-smelling, doughy feces, painful abdominal meteorism;
and the child will not grow. There can be anaemia caused by want of iron, oedema, lack of proteins, a
prominent belly.
• Also adults reveal anaemia, but in a different form; symptoms are more shaded and difficult to
detect.
They are:
asthenia, cramps, oedema of the ankles, pain in the bones, fertility troubles, premature childbirths.
• In women the average age of appearance of the celiac disease is about 10-15 years younger than in men
and it reveals itself with amenorrhoea or anaemia in pregnancy.
The non treated celiac disease ends up in malnutrition.
Once damaged by the killer reaction, the intestine cannot digest even other gluten free foods; it can also
induce intolerance of lactose, contained in milk and cheeses, which must be eliminated from the diet.
In the long run this causes vitaminic deficiencies, loss of calcium through feces, anaemia, osteoporosis,
peripheric neuropathies.
If not respecting a gluten free diet, patients of celiac disease have greater chances to develop even cancer, or a
lynphoma of the intestine.
Diet is the only therapy.
The disease can be efficiently kept under control through a change of diet.
Gluten must be completely eliminated: even small quantities of gluten can hinder the remission or induce a
relapse of the disease.
Patients need a detailed list of the foods to be avoided, as gluten is contained in many marketed foods, such as
soups, sauces, ice-creams, hot dogs.
It is necessary to avoid eating bread, cereals, crackers, ‘pasta’, biscuits, cakes, juices, unless they are
labelled as gluten free.
95% of patients of celiac disease who adopt a gluten free diet achieve a total relapse. A gluten free diet must
never be alternated with a normal one. |
