Celiac Disease is an Autoimmune Disorder

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), "An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue" (Medline Plus).

In a healthy person, our immune system is protected from harmful substances by white blood cells. That is why when we have an infection, our white blood cell count is elevated. These white blood cells are sent out to destroy the bad guys (antigens like bactiria or viruses or other harmful substances in our body). But if you have an autoimmune disease, like celiac disease, your immune system can no longer tell the difference between what is normal and what is an antigen. So the body sends out the signal to destroy the wrong thing-- in this case it destroys normal body tissue.

This is similar to when the body has an allergic reaction, but with an allergy, the body is reacting to an external substance, while with an autoimmune disorder, the body reacts to normal body tissue.

Nobody really knows what causes the immune system to lose its ability to determine healthy body tissue from antigens, but there seems to be a genetic prospensity that tends to single some people out while ignoring others.

According to the NIH, autoimmune dieseases will manifest various symptoms that are specific to the disease, but there are some that are common, such as:

• Dizzines
• Fatigue
• General ill-feeling
• Low-grade fever

Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease in which gluten and other proteins (wheat, barley, and rye) damage the lining of the small intestines. There is no cure, and at this point can be treated only through strict dietary measures. Even trace amounts can cause continued damage to the gut, with or without symptoms. This drawing which I borrowed from the Celiac Disease Foundation shows the interior wall of the small intestine. It is lined with tiny hairlike villi which absorb the nutrients from food as it passes through the intestines. Celiac disease flattens these villi, making it more difficult for us to get the nutrients we need, and in turn-- causing a whole host of other problems.

According to an article in The North Jersey News:

"There are three necessary components to celiac... You need to carry the gene that predisposes you to the disease. You need exposure to the gluten, and you need a trigger mechanism. Right now we don’t really know what that trigger might be, but once it’s triggered into action, it doesn’t go away" (North Jersey News, Dec. 1, 2009).

The Celiac Disease Foundation states that "Celiac disease affects more people than all of these disorders combined" and that "97% of people with Celiac Disease go undiagnosed. Celiac Disease is one of the most common genetic conditions in the world. Celiac is a multi-symptom, multi-system disorder, activated by eating gluten - proteins found in wheat, rye and barley. Symptoms vary and are not always gastrointestinal." So just because you aren't having a stomach ache or some other digestive issue, does not necessarily mean you are free from having celiac, especially if you have a family history of digestive troubles.

When in doubt, check it out!