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.
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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 New Zealand is delighted to partner with the Celiac Disease Foundation to set up a New Zealand Patient Registry on our website. https://coeliac.org.nz/patient-registry/ Who is the Celiac Disease Foundation? The Celiac Disease Foundation, established in 1990, is a leading global patient advocacy organisation committed to accelerating diagnosis, treatments, and a cure for coeliac disease. […]
When a child is diagnosed with coeliac disease, it is common for parents to experience a range of emotions. These can include fear, overwhelm and powerlessness. Some parents may also experience relief at finally knowing the cause of their child’s symptoms. Even as your child reaches adulthood, or when they are diagnosed as a young […]
Research shows that a growing number of coeliac disease diagnoses are occurring in people over 65. While older adults may experience symptoms similar to younger individuals, such as iron deficiency anaemia, weight loss, and persistent diarrhoea, some symptoms may look somewhat different. These can include autoimmune disorders, increased fracture risk (osteoporosis), lymphoma, and heart disease […]