Having Gluten Sensitivity Can Increase Your Risk for Other Conditions

A common misconception that people have about gluten sensitivity is that it is a food allergy. Food allergies, such as a wheat or gluten allergy, are a result of the body attacking a normally-benign foreign substance and can cause a variety of physical reactions in response to contact with the allergen. These can range from trouble breathing and skin rashes to severe reactions like anaphylactic shock. People who suffer from gluten sensitivity or intolerance, however, experience different symptoms because it is actually an auto-immune condition and not an allergy.

Auto-immune diseases cause an abnormal immune response in reaction to the catalyst. In the case of celiac disease, a severe form of gluten sensitivity, the presence of gluten in the digestive system causes the immune system to attack and damage the villi that line the wall of the small intestine, rather than the gluten itself. Since these villi are needed in order for the body to absorb essential nutrients, people who suffer from celiac disease have an increased risk of developing other conditions that are related to immune dysfunction and malnutrition, including:

Dermatitis herpetiformis - This is a chronic, blister-like skin rash that often accompanies celiac disease. The causes of it are unknown, but it is believed to be linked to the auto-immune response that gluten sensitivity causes.
Osteoporosis - Since essential nutrients such as calcium are unable to be properly absorbed by the damaged villi, bone density problems and other vitamin deficiency-related conditions are common.
Type 1 Diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes) - People with celiac disease are also more likely to develop Type 1 diabetes.
Sjögren's Syndrome - Most common in women over 40, Sjögren's Syndrome is a condition in which the immune system attacks moisture-producing glands such as saliva and tear ducts. People with other auto-immune conditions like celiac disease are more likely to develop chronic dry eye and dry mouth.
Auto-Immune Thyroid Disease - People with celiac disease are more likely to have immune-related thyroid problems, like Graves's disease (hyperthyroidism) and hypothyroidism.
Iron Deficiency Anemia or Folic Acid Anemia - Due to the villi damage, people with celiac disease are more likely to become anemic.
Much more

Thankfully, gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, while not curable, can be effectively managed. By following a strict gluten-free diet, many symptoms of celiac disease will usually subside and the intestinal villi will be able to heal. While gluten sensitivity can be difficult to diagnose due to the wide range of symptoms and relations to other conditions, early detection can help prevent some gluten-related conditions from developing, and celiac disease treatment has shown to help reduce the symptoms of many related conditions.