Evaluación del estado de salud y nutricional de pacientes celiacos de la Comunidad Valenciana

2011

Celiac disease is an autoimmune pathology characterized by a chronic inflammation of the proximal part of the small intestine, caused by exposure to a vegetable protein present in some cereals called gluten. These cereals are wheat, barley, rye and, possibly by cross-contamination issues, oats. Due to a cell-mediated immune response towards gluten, changes in the structure and function of the small intestine mucosa occur, so the gut loses its ability to digest and absorb nutrients from food. The main symptoms are among others, chronic diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, increased risk of developing T-cell lymphoma, bloating and abdominal pain, steatorrhea, ma…