Celiac Disease
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, is estimated to impact one in every one hundred people in the world. The disorder runs in families. Individuals whose parent, child or sibling has celiac disease have a one in ten risk of developing the condition.
When an individual who is predisposed to the condition eats gluten (a protein that exists in barley, rye and wheat), his or her body stages an immune response, which damages tiny projections in the small intestine that are responsible for absorbing nutrients. When nutrients are not absorbed properly, malnourishment can occur.
The most common symptoms of celiac disease include abdominal fullness and bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.