According to an article by Colleen Fisher Tully in a 2008 edition of Canadian Living, Celiac Disease is
an autoimmune condition in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged by gluten. A healthy intestine has tiny villi – or microscopic hairs – that absorb nutrients as food passes through your system. If you have CD, gluten will cause your immune system to attack the small intestine, resulting in inflammation and damage to the tissues. The microscopic villi in the intestine then atrophy and become flattened, unable to absorb healthful nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals.
Over time this autoimmune reaction to gluten can cause an array of disruptive symptoms. Most common are abdominal pain, gas or bloating, diarrhea and weight loss; fatigue, anemia, infertility, recurrent oral ulcers, bone pain and menstrual irregularities are also often reported. Additional symptoms in children may include irritability, vomiting, delayed growth and defects in dental enamel. Untreated CD can also increase the risk of osteoporosis and intestine cancer.”
http://www.canadianliving.com/health/prevention/what_is_celiac_disease.php
