Related Diseases and Conditions
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder with a genetic component, appearing to be linked to certain types of HLA genes. There are a number of other diseases that are autoimmune-mediated and appear to have similar genetic linkages.
- Type 1 diabetes
- Sarcoidosis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Grave’s disease
- Myasthenia gravis
These diseases are all autoimmune disorders which appear to have a higher incidence among people with celiac disease than in the general population. Treatment for CD will not cure these conditions.
Other Conditions: A number of other conditions have been reported that may occur because of untreated CD, and can be expected to improve when treated with a gluten-free diet.
- Osteoporosis is a frequent complication of CD due to malabsorption prior to diagnosis. Adherence to a gluten-free diet can lead to significant bone remineralization. The two major determining factors in developing osteoporosis are maturation of peak bone mass and subsequent bone loss. Thus in order to achieve optimal bone mass, early detection of CD is essential.
- Depression is another well-documented presentation of untreated or undiagnosed CD. Psychological improvement is usually noted after placement on a gluten-free diet and vitamin B6 treatments. Anemia, deficiency of iron, folic acid and/or Vitamin B12 is another common symptom of CD, and can be expected to improve on a gluten-free diet.
