A study published in the December issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics has found a direct connection between celiac disease and oral health. Reported by InteliHealth News Service, the abstract provides an interesting view of how the internal workings of our bodies are, indeed, interrelated.
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Food Sensitivity Can Affect Your Mouth
by Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service
INTELIHEALTH - Researchers in Italy have found that people with celiac disease are more likely to have certain problems with their teeth and mouths. But the researchers also found that these problems may not be reliable symptoms of celiac disease.
People with celiac disease are sensitive to a protein called gluten. Gluten is found in foods that contain wheat, barley and rye. Gluten also may be found in vitamins, medicines and even the glue on envelopes.
There were 197 people in the study who had celiac disease. None of them were on gluten-free diets. This is the only treatment for celiac disease. As part of the study, they were asked to stop eating gluten. The researchers compared these people with 413 people who did not have celiac disease.
People with celiac disease were more likely to have defects in their tooth enamel. The enamel is the hard outer coating of the tooth. Enamel defects were found in 23 of every 100 people with celiac disease. They were found in 9 of every 100 people without the disease.
People with celiac disease were much more likely to have sores in their mouths, too. These sores were seen in 42 of every 100 people with celiac disease. They were seen in only 2 of every 100 healthy people.
After one year on the gluten-free diet, most people with celiac disease did not have sores anymore.
In people with celiac disease, gluten causes an allergic reaction in the gut. This damages the small intestine. The body cannot absorb nutrition very well. Celiac disease also can cause gas, bloating, stomach pain, constipation and other symptoms. But some people may have no symptoms at all. Many people have celiac disease and don’t know it.