What is Coeliac Disease?
Coeliac Disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of essential nutrients from food. People who have CD cannot tolerate gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten may also be found in everyday products such as medicines, vitamins and lip balms.
When people with CD eat foods containing gluten (or use products containing gluten), this triggers a severe autoimmune response which damages the tiny, finger-like protrusions (villi) lining the small intestine. Villi enable nutrients to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person rapidly becomes malnourished, regardless of how much food is consumed.
CD affects approximately 1 in 100 people and can occur at any age. Under-diagnosis, however, is a major factor. According to Coeliac UK, only 10-15% of sufferers are clinically diagnosed. If a first degree family member (mother, father, sister or brother) has the condition, then the chance of developing the disease increases to 1 in 10.