Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune condition in which eating gluten triggers the body’s immune system to attack the small intestine. Over time, this damage interferes with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients properly.

What Happens to the Body?

The inner surface of the small intestine is lined with tiny, finger-like projections called villi, which increase surface area and help absorb nutrients from food. In celiac disease, the immune system attacks these villi, causing inflammation and flattening (villous atrophy), which impairs nutrient absorption.

If left untreated, this can lead to:

1. Malnutrition
2. Fatigue and vitamin deficiencies
3. Reduced bone density
4. Increased risk of certain intestinal cancers

References

1. Children Who Have a First-Degree Relative With Celiac Disease May Be At Higher Risk of Disease Development Than Previously Thought | Celiac Disease Foundation [Internet]. Celiac Disease Foundation. Celiac; 2022. Available from: https://celiac.org/2022/06/07/children-who-have-a-first-degree-relative-with-celiac-disease-may-be-at-higher-risk-of-disease-development-than-previously-thought/
2. Aboulaghras S, Piancatelli D, Taghzouti K, Balahbib A, Alshahrani MM, Al Awadh AA, et al. Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of HLA DQ2/DQ8 in Adults with Celiac Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences [Internet]. 2023 Jan 7;24(2):1188. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9863503/https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021188
3. Lindfors K, Ciacci C, Kurppa K, Lundin KEA, Makharia GK, Mearin ML, et al. Coeliac Disease. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2019 Jan 10;5(1).
4. Celiac Disease Patients with Ongoing Intestine Damage at Lymphoma Risk [Internet]. Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 2013. Available from: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/celiac-disease-patients-ongoing-intestine-damage-lymphoma-risk