Celiac Symptom Differentiation: Malabsorption versus Malnutrition

  I thought this was very interesting as a way of differentiating the various symptoms I might have due to Celiac Disease.  I found this on WebMD today.

  Celiac Symptoms: Mal–absorption versus Malnutrition

From WebMD about symptoms of Celiac Disease:

“Depending on the degree of malabsorption, the signs and symptoms of celiac disease vary among individuals, ranging from no symptoms, few or mild signs and symptoms, to many or severe signs and symptoms. There are two categories of signs and symptoms: 1) signs and symptoms due to malabsorption, and 2) signs and symptoms due to malnutrition including vitamin and mineral deficiencies.”

  For me, this is another way of helping me better understand and hopefully address my symptoms.

Celiac Sprue — A “genetic disorder”

According to the Celiac Sprue Association,

• Celiac disease (CD) is a genetic disorder. In people with CD, eating certain types of protein, called gluten, sets off an autoimmune response that causes damage to the small intestine. This, in turn, causes the small intestine to lose its ability to absorb the nutrients found in food, leading to malnutrition and a variety of other complications.

http://www.csaceliacs.org/celiac_defined.php

The most prominant item on the short list of dangerous foods is “wheat”.  There is also a list of other foods that cause damage to persons with Celiac Sprue.

I don’t know if you have really looked lately, but is so happens that in the U.S., wheat is in tons of our most common foods.  For anyone with Celiac Sprue — particularly those who are recently diagnosed (within the past few years) – safe eating becomes a challenge.