Coeliac Awareness Week Resources

The 13th through 20th of March is Coeliac Awareness Week in Australia. With 1 in every 70 Australians being affected with Coeliac Disease and 80% of those affected remaining undiagnosed, it is important for us as practitioners to always keep this condition in mind as a possible differential diagnosis.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the microvilli of the small intestines are severely damaged by gluten – even in trace amounts. It is a lifelong condition that cannot be cured, but which can be actively managed and which significantly improves once gluten is removed from the diet.

Common symptoms of Coeliac disease can include but are not limited to:

• Constipation and/or diarrhoea
• Bloating and flatulence
• Stomach pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatty stools (steatorrhoea)
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Mouth ulcers
• Depression
• Fertility problems

Coeliac disease can affect multiple systems throughout the body, and is linked to various disorders in systems such as the endocrine system (Type 1 diabetes, amenorrhoea, Addison’s disease), the joints (polyarthritis, lupus, sarcoidosis), the blood (anaemia), the liver (abnormal LFTs, autoimmune cirrhosis), the nervous system (Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy, depression), and the reproductive system (unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriage).

As always, to further your understanding and confidence in treating conditions such as this, we have complied a list of resources for you, including two BioCeuticals Clinical Mastery webinars with Dr. Brad Leech and Dr. Nirala Jacobi on gut health (which are free until the 31st of March!), as well as articles and infographics on gluten intolerance and leaky gut syndrome, all of which are designed to give you a deeper understanding of gut health and Coeliac Disease.