Colon Cancer & Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue, is a disease of the small intestine. It destroys the lining of the small intestine and its symptoms can affect every aspect of daily life for those diagnosed with the disease. Treatment consists of adhering to a strict diet to limit the allergic reaction and symptoms. Celiac disease has also been linked to other diseases such as colon cancer. While there is no known cure for celiac disease, progress is being made.

Celiac Causes

An allergic reaction between gluten and the inner lining of the intestine is what causes celiac disease. The protein in gluten called gliadin is the main culprit in the reaction between gluten and the intestinal lining. Gluten is found in all types of food and comes from wheat, rye, barley and oats. Researchers aren't sure how gliadin becomes toxic as the transformation isn't very well understood.

Symptoms

The symptoms of celiac sprue include abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence. Diarrhea is a common complaint as well. Diarrhea is caused by the intestine's inability to absorb the fat from food. This reduced absorption of fat and nutrients is one of the difficulties of celiac disease. It can cause weight loss, anemia and malnutrition. Patients with celiac disease may also bruise easily and notice muscle weakness. Celiac disease can even cause infertility.

Associated Conditions

Those with celiac disease can also experience other conditions. Patients can suffer from recurrent and painful mouth sores, insulin dependent diabetes and thyroid disease. In those with celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis is also more prevalent. Cancer of the colon is several times more common in those with celiac disease as compared to those without the disease, according to Dr. Dennis Lee.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer and its association with celiac disease isn't clear. Colon cancer tends to develop in those that have had celiac sprue longer than 20 to 30 years. It's difficult to diagnose due to the inflammation of the colon that occurs with celiac disease and similar symptoms. Symptoms of colon cancer can include anemia, abdominal pain, weight loss and fever. In celiac patients that have symptoms under control and are following a gluten free diet, these symptoms may lead a physician to check for colon cancer.

Findings

There are some doctors who believe that adhering to a strict gluten-free diet can reduce the chance of colon cancer for celiac disease patients. Though recommended for relief of symptoms, a gluten free diet is yet to be proven effective in limiting the risk of developing colon cancer for celiac patients. Once celiac patients are diagnosed with colon cancer, the prognosis is usually poor so anything that may reduce the risk of colon cancer is certainly worth trying.