Causes

When someone with coeliac disease eats gluten, their immune system reacts by damaging the lining of the small intestine. The small intestine is positioned between the stomach and the large intestine (the colon). In a healthy small intestine, there are small, finger like projections (called villi) that allow the body to absorb nutrients from food into the blood. If you have coeliac disease, these villi become flatter and you have difficulty absorbing nutrients.

We know from research that people with the condition have genes which mean they may develop coeliac disease but we don’t yet know why. People with untreated coeliac disease are also likely to experience complications caused by a lack of crucial nutrients that the body needs.

Untreated coeliac disease

In untreated coeliac disease, villi become inflamed and get shorter or flattened and in some cases, they can be damaged so much that they are completely flat. This is called villous atrophy. When the gut is damaged in this way, it means the body can’t absorb nutrients from food properly. This is called malabsorption. This damage causes many of the symptoms of coeliac disease and adds to the health risks and complications which are commonly found alongside coeliac disease such as anaemia and osteoporosis.

The way the body’s immune system reacts to gluten can affect other parts of the body as well. For example, a skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis may develop.

The good news is that once someone with coeliac disease follows a strict gluten free diet, the small intestine will begin to repair and absorb nutrients efficiently again.