Celiac Disease And Lactose Intolerance Posted: 06-19-07 13:19pm
What does Celiac Disease have to do with
Lactose intolerance?
The damage done by Celiac disease prior to
the implementation of a Gluten Free diet
consists of the flattening of the villi in
the duodenum and upper small intestine.
The Villi are responsible for absorbing
the nutrients from food, but also, the
enzyme lactase, which breakss down
loactose is manufactured by the body inthe
ends of the villi. Thus, when the vili
are flattened,the body is no longer able
to manufacture lactase. the resulting
symptoms are those of lactose intolerance,
such as flatulence, bloating, diarrhea,
and stomach upset after eating dairly
products.
The implications of this are quite
important. Improper absorption of the
proteins found in dairy products can lead
to dire consequences in bone development,
particularly if untreated over long
periods of time. In fact, the .American
.Medical .Association is beginning to
screen young patients with osteoporosis
for celiac disease as a precurser to early
onset of the condition.
How can one improve one's chances of not
developing the disease? Here are a few
ideas:
Stick to a strict gluten free diet at all
times if you are a celiac
Do not smoke
Drink milk or soy milk fortified with
calcium and vitamin d
Get at least 20 minutes of sunshine per
day
Supplement your calcium intake with
calcium plus vitamin d if your diteary
intake is low
Get regular weight bearing exercise at
least 3-4 times per week for at least 45
minutes
Eat a blanced diet
