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Celiac Disease Research Paper

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Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the ingestion of gluten causing damage to the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of these education materials is to help you understand celiac disease and why some people need to eat gluten free. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and many other types of food. Celiac Disease was first described in the first century AD, but the modern description was developed late in the 19th century. Despite this long history, Celiac Disease only recently came into the public light through the new gluten free diet fad. With this new diet trend it is important to understand why people may need to change their diets and if you are one of those people.

What exactly is Celiac Disease (CD)?
CD is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine. The small intestine is largely responsible for breaking down macromolecule, like carbs and fats, and absorbing nutrients. After gluten is ingested the body begins producing autoantibodies that to begin to attack the patients own cells. This leads to an inflammatory reaction in the small intestine. Long-term inflammation then leads to the shortening of villi lining the intestine. Villi are important for the absorption of nutrients. (See figure 1).

Who can have Celiac disease?
An estimated 1 out of …show more content…

The blood test will look for higher levels of certain antibodies. These antibodies are produced by your immune system in order to “protect” your body from gluten. If the results of the blood test are positive, your doctor may order an endoscopic biopsy of your small intestine. During this procedure a physician inserts a small flexible tube through the mouth to the small intestine and takes a small tissue sample. The sample is then examined microscopically for signs of villi damage characteristic of CD. If both of these tests are positive your physician will confirm a diagnosis of

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