Question

Human nutrition

Females with severe Celiac Disease often exhibit symptoms such as steatorrhea as well as conditions such as osteopenia at the time of initial diagnosis of the disease. Using your understanding of human nutrition, provide mechanistic explanations for the presence of steatorrhea and osteopenia in these individuals.

Answer 1

The symptoms of celiac disease vary from one person to another. In its mildest form, there may be no symptoms whatsoever. However, even if you have no symptoms, you may not be absorbing nutrients adequately, which can be detected with blood tests. As an example, you can develop a low blood count as a result of decreased iron absorption.

Some people have bothersome symptoms of celiac disease, including diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, excessive gas, and other signs and symptoms caused by vitamin and nutrient deficiencies.

Some conditions are more common in people with celiac disease, including:

●Osteopenia or osteoporosis (weakening of the bones)
●Iron deficiency anemia (low blood count due to lack of iron)
●Diabetes mellitus (type I or so-called juvenile onset diabetes mellitus)
●Thyroid problems (usually hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid)

Celiac disease can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are similar to other conditions. Fortunately, testing is available that can easily distinguish untreated celiac disease from other disorders.

Blood tests — A blood test can determine the blood level of antibodies (proteins) that become elevated in people with celiac disease. Over 95 percent of people with untreated celiac disease have elevated antibody levels (called IgA tissue transglutaminase, or IgA tTG), while these levels are rarely elevated in those without celiac disease.

Before having these tests, it is important to continue eating a normal diet, including foods that contain gluten. Avoiding or eliminating gluten could cause the antibody levels to fall to normal, delaying the diagnosis.

Small intestine biopsy — If your blood test is positive, the diagnosis must be confirmed by examining a small sample of the intestinal lining with a microscope. The sample (called a biopsy) is usually collected during an upper endoscopy, a test that involves swallowing a small flexible instrument with a camera. The camera allows a physician to examine the upper part of the gastrointestinal system and remove a small piece (biopsy) of the small intestine. The biopsy is not painful.