Could you be coeliac?

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease that means your body is intolerant to gluten, a group of proteins that are found in wheat, rye and barley products.

When eaten by someone who is coeliac, gluten causes damage to the small intestines and can have very serious consequences.

Research revealed during the recent Coeliac Awareness Week estimates that only 10 to 20 per cent of all coeliacs in the UK have been diagnosed, with the rest carrying around unpleasant symptoms of this lifelong condition without understanding the cause.

The survey by Newburn Bakehouse by Warburtons also found that more than half of coeliacs were initially misdiagnosed, many of them with IBS.

We spoke to nutritionist and chef Christine Bailey, whose son is coeliac, to find out how common the condition really is, what symptoms to look for and how to deal with it.

[Parenting a gluten-free child]

Thousands of sufferers in the UK

The first thing that comes as a surprise is just how common coeliac disease really is.

“One in 100 people in the UK is estimated to have it and for some ethnic background the risk is even higher,” Christine explains.

“It’s often missed but to be fair to GPs, it’s because the symptoms don’t always point directly to coeliac disease – they could all be attributed to a number of other things.”

Christine also explains that there’s another condition, gluten sensitivity, which is very different from the auto-immune disease, and isn’t diagnosed in the same way.

“So you don’t have to be coeliac to find that gluten isn’t suitable for you.

“In some people, it can produce antibodies that make you feel sick and sore but it doesn’t cause the same destruction to the small intestines as coeliacs experience."

Symptoms

One of the problems in diagnosing coeliac disease is that the symptoms are so varied and can often be connected to other problems.

Broadly, digestive symptoms can be similar to those of IBS and other stomach problems such as diarrhoea, stomach pain, bloating and constipation.

“If you’re getting these symptoms for more than a couple of months, your doctor should check you for gluten intolerance,” says Christine.

“They may do other tests to rule out other potential problems at the same time.

“Other symptoms can creep up over a longer period of time and are related to the damage to the small intestines and the body’s inability to absorb essential nutrients."

[Gwyneth Paltrow hates gluten. Should we?]

“We’ve seen links between problems getting pregnant, having miscarriages, anaemia, depression, dermatitis and other autoimmune diseases. Alopecia has been reported and some people can experience migraines and foggy-headedness.

“Because many of these aren’t directly relatable to digestion, it can take time to discover that they’re all down to diet.”

Christine reminds us that it’s vital to get a professional diagnosis.

“Don’t just go off an self medicate. You need a professional blood test,” she says.

“It’s also important that you are still eating gluten when you have your test because it will look for gluten antibodies. If you haven’t eaten gluten for some time, they won’t show up and you’ll most likely get a false negative.”

Coeliac disease in children

he majority of coeliacs are diagnosed in their 30s and 40s, when chronic damage to the gut has led to other problems finally being ruled out. If it can be diagnosed as a child, this is preferable as a gluten-free diet can be adopted as early as possible.

“Children often experience slightly different symptoms,” Christine says. “Constant mouth ulcers and dental problems are a sign that thy aren’t absorbing calcium and magnesium, which is vital for dental health and strong teeth and bones.”

She adds: "In general, we look for what's called a 'failure to thrive', stunted growth and being sickly, for example.

“Going gluten-free can be difficult with children because they don’t like to be different but there are new products out such as wraps and rolls that have the cool factor that help them fit in.”

[Does your baby have a cows' milk allergy?]

Going gluten-free

The only treatment for coeliac disease is a gluten-free diet for life.

“Your GP will be able to put you in touch with a nutritionist and dietician to ensure that the changes you make to your diet are nutritionally sound,” says Christine. “You might need to be tested for vitamin deficiency as you gut won’t have been working at an optimum level because of the damage caused by the gluten proteins. This may mean you need to supplement for a period of time.

“Taking the gluten products out of your diet is one thing but it’s also vital for coeliacs to avoid cross contamination. Even using the same chopping board, grill pan or toaster could cause problems for you and when eating out you need to be extra careful.”

Gluten-free food

“One great thing that should encourage you to go and get a medical diagnosis is that good quality gluten-free food is available on prescription,” Christine says.

“One positive is that gluten-free food today is so much better than in the past. Honestly, you often can’t tell the difference and there’s also wholemeal options now, which is so much better for your blood sugar levels.”

“You may also need some support to mend your gut so speak to your nutritionist about this. They will be able to recommend digestive enzymes. But generally, ginger, fish, turmeric, green tea, blueberries and cherries are all anti-inflammatory so get plenty of them into your diet.

“Aloe vera is also good for soothing the gut, and probiotics too. You can also drink coconut water to rehydrate if you’re suffering from diarrhoea and if you have constipation try ground flax seed and drink plenty of water.”

For more information, head to Coeliac UK.