Can gluten intolerance cause malabsorption?
Category:
medical health
digestive disorders
Celiac disease is a hereditary intolerance to gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) that causes characteristic changes in the lining of the small intestine, resulting in malabsorption. The intestinal lining becomes inflamed after a person ingests the protein gluten.
In this regard, can gluten intolerance cause malnutrition?
Untreated celiac disease can cause malnutrition — even if you've been eating a healthy, balanced diet. When someone who has celiac disease consumes foods containing gluten, the body reacts by attacking the intestinal villi.
Also question is, what are the first signs of gluten intolerance?
Here are the 14 main signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance.
- Bloating. Bloating is when you feel as if your belly is swollen or full of gas after you've eaten.
- Diarrhea, Constipation and Smelly Feces.
- Abdominal Pain.
- Headaches.
- Feeling Tired.
- Skin Problems.
- Depression.
- Unexplained Weight Loss.
If there is a suspicion of celiac disease, your doctor will most likely start the screening with a tTG-IgA test. The results of that test will direct whether more blood testing or genetic testing should be done. Testing will often be followed by an endoscopy and biopsy before a gluten-free diet is recommended.