cystic fibrosis and celiac disease

Question

Hello, I was diagnosed to have celiac disease, I have no particular symptoms and I would like to know the benefit / risk of a strict gluten diet in relation to CF? What are the risks of not permanently being absent from gluten?

Answer

Hello,

Gluten intolerance, or celiac disease, is a common intestinal disease in the general population. It's a disease triggered by the ingestion of gluten, protein contained in some cereals (wheat, barley, rye, oats ...), which will cause damage to the intestinal wall and will cause a bad absorption and digestive disorders.

In CF, several studies have found a frequency of celiac disease higher than frequency in the general population; some cases may go unnoticed because the symptoms are sometimes minimal and similar to those of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in CF (abdominal pain, diarrhea, difficult gain of weight ...).

In case of celiac disease, the gluten-free diet for life helps to restore a normal intestinal wall. Maintaining the gluten in the diet may lead to nutritional deficits, resulting in anemia, osteoporosis, for example, and increases the risk of digestive lymphomas.

In the context of CF, although it is sometimes difficult to combine high calorie diet and gluten-free diet, this diet with total exclusion of gluten is essential for good intestinal absorption and a satisfactory nutritional status.

Best regards
Dr Michèle Gérardin

06.06.2015