What Is Coeliac Disease?
Coeliac disease (pronounced see-lee-ak) is a permanent intestinal reaction to dietary gluten. With coeliac disease, the cells lining the small bowel (intestine) become damaged and inflamed. This causes flattening of the tiny, finger like projections, called villi, which line the inside of the bowel.
The function of the villi is to break down and absorb nutrients in food. When these villi become flat, the surface area of the bowel is greatly decreased, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. This may also lead to deficiencies in vitamins (such as vitamin D, vitamin B12 or folate) and minerals (e.g. iron and calcium).
International research indicates there could be up to 100,000 people in our NZ team of 5 million with coeliac disease and of those 30,000 are likely to be children under the age of 18. However a large proportion of those are unaware they have the condition.Coeliac New Zealand is available throughout your journey. As part of our community, you’ll get support, advice, and assistance. We work with health professionals, manufacturers, and researchers to raise awareness of coeliac disease in NZ.
Together, we can reach a day when every person with coeliac disease gets diagnosed quickly, lives a healthy life, and has the prospect of a cure.
Support your charity – the only not-for-profit supporting Kiwis with coeliac disease. Become part of Coeliac New Zealand now.
We're recruiting for volunteers - interested? Share your knowledge and experience with others living with the disease. Find out how.
Help us reach more people who are suffering from coeliac disease. Contribute to the greater good of your community.
Access the online course, approved by the Division for Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Munich, Germany.
Coeliac disease is treated with a life-long gluten free diet. By specifically removing the cause of the disease, this treatment generally means that the majority of symptoms (and blood test abnormalities) recover completely. Short stature and dental enamel defects are likely to persist, even with a gluten free diet, depending on how well established these are before the diagnosis is made. Recovery is dependent on strict adherence to the diet.
Some people may require an initial period of a lactose free diet in addition to their gluten-free diet. The damage to the villi interferes with the normal breakdown and absorption of lactose (milk sugar) due to secondary lactose intolerance. With recovery of the villi, progressive reintroduction of lactose might be tolerated again.
About Coeliac New Zealand
Your partner in
healthy living
Coeliac New Zealand is available throughout your journey. As part of our community, you’ll get support, advice, and assistance. We work with health professionals, manufacturers, and researchers to raise awareness of coeliac disease in NZ.
Together, we can reach a day when every person with coeliac disease gets diagnosed quickly, lives a healthy life, and has the prospect of a cure.
Coeliac NZ is a not-for-profit organisation and has been supporting people with coeliac disease for over 5 decades. By promoting diversity and inclusion we benefit from a wider talent pool and provide different perspectives that reflect the people who have coeliac disease. We have a strong skilled and engaged Board carrying out the governance of […]
Our gut houses an ecosystem of over 100 trillion microorganisms that is commonly referred to as our gut microbiome. The health and functionality of our gut microbiome has been the subject of extensive research which has shown associations between our gut and nutrition, immune function, metabolism, chronic disease and mood disorders. Your lifestyle and dietary […]
We would like to congratulate Glenys Milicich and Joanne Punch who won a gift pack from Crossed Grain Logo accredited Te Mata Figs for sharing their lived experience of coeliac disease (advertised in the Coeliac Link summer issue). Glenys writes, "A huge thank you to Te Mata Figs and Coeliac NZ for this yummy treat. […]