What Causes Celiac Disease?

“What causes celiac disease?” First of all, we can answer the question by stating that celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. When a person with severe digestive sensitivities to gluten consumes gluten, the immune system begins to react, resulting in damage to the small intestines.

Our genetically inherited genes, combined with gluten-containing foods and other factors, can cause the development of celiac disease. However, the exact cause is unknown. Infant feeding practices, gastrointestinal infections (infections affecting the stomach and intestinal tract), and intestinal bacteria are also causes of celiac disease. In some cases, celiac disease can occur after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress. For this reason, celiac disease can be seen later, even if it is not congenital.

When celiac disease is not noticed in the early period and gluten consumption is not limited, it is known as villi in the intestine; Finger-shaped structures that absorb nutrients are damaged and the absorption of nutrients is limited.

When the body's immune system overreacts to gluten in food, the reaction damages the villi that line the small intestine. This structure absorbs vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat. If this structure, called villi, is damaged, you won't be able to get enough nutrients, no matter how much you eat.

Celiac disease can occur in anyone. Genetic predisposition in the family is among the important causes. Having a parent or first-degree relative with celiac disease will increase the cause and incidence of the disease.

Celiac disease is more common in people with other conditions, including:

  • Down Syndrome
  • Turner syndrome
  • Having type 1 diabetes.

 Other causes that may be directly or indirectly related to celiac disease are;

  • Lupus (a disease that causes inflammation of tissue related to the body's immune system)
  • Rheumatic joint inflammation
  • Thyroid disease
  • Autoimmune liver disease
  • Addison's disease
  • Sjögren's syndrome (dry eyes and mouth)
  • Lactose intolerance (lactose intolerance can also be seen in the advanced stage of celiac disease)
  • Bowel cancer
  • Intestinal lymphoma.

In summary, it is seen that the causes of celiac disease mainly originate from the family. In addition, digestive disorders, infections and hereditary diseases that cause celiac disease are among the causes.