Autoimmune Disorders: Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a life-long autoimmune disorder, which causes damage to the lining of villi and microvilli (absorptive surfaces) in the small intestine. 1 This damage is caused by a substance called gluten and as a consequence of a long-term consumption the risk of developing associated conditions will increase. Gluten is a protein that can be found in crops such as barley, wheat and rye. If a person suffering from celiac disease is exposed to gluten in their diet, an enzyme called “transglutaminase changes the gluten into a chemical that causes an immune response, leading to inflammation of the lining of the small intestine.” 4 As a result the villi lining the walls of the small intestine gets blunted and destroyed and thus preventing a
proper absorption of nutrients.