| Untreated coeliac disease can be life
threatening. Coeliacs are more likely to be afflicted with
problems relating to malabsorption, including osteoporosis,
tooth enamel defects, central and peripheral nervous system
disease, pancreatic disease, internal haemorrhaging, organ
disorders, and gynaecological disorders.
Fertility may also be affected. Some researchers are convinced
that gluten intolerance, whether or not it results in
full-blown coeliac disease, can impact mental functioning in
some individuals and cause or aggravate autism, Asperger's
syndrome, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and schizophrenia.
Some or all of the damage may be healed after time on a
gluten-free diet. Coeliacs who do not maintain a gluten-free
diet also stand a much greater chance of getting certain
types of cancer, especially intestinal lymphoma.
Untreated coeliac disease can cause temporary lactose
intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products.
To be digested it must be broken down by an enzyme called
lactase. Lactase is produced on the tips of the villi in the
small intestine. Since gluten damages the villi, it is common
for untreated coeliacs to have problems with milk and milk
products. (Yoghurt and cheese are less of a problem since the
cultures in them break down the lactose). A gluten-free
diet will usually eliminate lactose intolerance. However,
some people (both coeliacs and non-coeliacs) are lactose
intolerant even with a healthy small intestine; in that case
a gluten-free diet will not eliminate lactose intolerance.
Coeliacs often suffer from other food intolerances. These may
respond to a gluten free diet--or they may not. Soy, corn and
MSG are examples of food products that some coeliacs may not
tolerate.
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