Published on July 10, 2019
Celiac disease, also called celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disease in which eating gluten (found in wheat, rye, and barley) causes inflammation and damage to the small intestine. This damage can lead to malabsorption of some nutrients which can then lead to other symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, osteoporosis or osteomalacia, and anemia.
How prevalent is celiac disease?
According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, approximately 0.7% of the United States population has been diagnosed with celiac disease. It is a genetic disease, found more commonly in individuals with other autoimmune diagnoses such as type 1 diabetes or autoimmune thyroid diseases.
To date, 118 participants (0.9%) in the GrassrootsHealth cohort have indicated a diagnosis of celiac disease.
Nutrient status affected by celiac disease
Results from a study by Bledsoe et al. were recently published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. In this study, researchers analyzed serum nutrient data from 309 patients newly diagnosed with celiac disease and compared it to controls from the NHANES database to determine if specific deficiencies were associated with the diagnosis. Included in the analysis were serum levels of zinc, vitamin D, albumin, copper, vitamin B12, and serum folate. As illustrated in the chart below, the most common deficiency for those diagnosed with celiac disease was zinc, followed by a deficiency in albumin. Copper, vitamin B12 and serum folate were also significantly more deficient in those with a diagnosis of celiac disease, although vitamin B12 may have also been affected by BMI. Vitamin D levels were similar among both groups, where the limit for deficiency was 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L).
What did this study conclude?
After presenting their findings and considering those from previous studies on the increased prevalence of nutrient deficiencies among individuals diagnosed with celiac disease, the authors concluded that nutrient testing should be made routine for all patients newly diagnosed with celiac disease.
Can I test any of these nutrients through GrassrootsHealth?
While not all of these nutrients are available for testing through GrassrootsHealth, you can test levels of zinc, copper, and vitamin D, along with other essential and toxic elements, in the D*action Elements Test kit! Testing vitamin D levels and taking daily steps to keep it at a target level of 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) is important for all stages of health, as is knowing if your levels of essential and toxic elements are in a healthy range. Find out your levels today! Log on to the shop (click the link below) to get your tests and see for yourself if your levels can be improved.
Make sure you track your results before and after, about every 6 months!
Click Here to Access the Shop Page
How can I track my nutrient intake and levels?
To help you track your nutrient levels, GrassrootsHealth has created an online tracking system called myData-myAnswers. You can also track your intake from supplements and dietary sources. Check it out today!
How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?
Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!
STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health
STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study
STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there
STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)
