Am I coeliac? The symptoms to look out for if your body can't handle gluten, and why you should never ignore them

For coeliacs, a gluten-free diet is more than just a fad

Stomach pain is among the symptoms of coeliac disease (champja/istock)

Thanks to the gluten-free fad of recent years, millions of people worldwide have ditched foods that contain wheat protein for supposed health benefits. But the lifestyle has raised eyebrows – especially as a recent study found that going gluten free is harmful.

But for those with coeliac disease - a condition where the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten - cutting out the protein can be lifesaving. Left untreated, the impact on the bowel can cause cancer.

While those with gluten intolerance may feel uncomfortable after eating wheat protein, coeliacs will experience an immune response. For the one in 100 people with the condition, a gluten-free diet which cuts out wheat, rye, barley and oats is a need, not a want. Even sharing a toaster can be a trigger.

But the symptoms are hard to pin down and vary from person to person. However, common signs include stomach ache, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and skin rashes immediately after eating gluten.

"Coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease," stresses Kirsten Crothers, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. "Avoiding gluten unnecessarily could mean that you are missing out on lots of healthy fibre, a source of prebiotics, and vitamin B.”

These are some side-effects of coeliac disease that show why you should not ignore any telltale symptoms

Fertility problems

Studies suggest that the condition is the cause of 4 to 8 per cent of unexplained infertility. A woman recently revealed to Cosmpolitan magazine that she delivered a stillborn baby because her coeliac disease went undiagnosed.

While the link is not fully understood, it is believed to be triggered by the body not being able to absorb nutrients such as folic acid, Crothers told The Independent.

Osteoporosis

If a coeliac does not follow a gluten-free diet for several years their body can stop absorbing calcium. Osteoporosis – where the bones become brittle and fragile – can result.

“I have seen cases where the individual actually has no other symptoms and then breaks a bone too easily for someone their age which is when the GP starts to investigate,” says Crothers.

Anaemia

Similarly, untreated coeliac disease can cause iron deficiency, causing a person to feel weak, look pale, and experience shortness of breath and heart palpitations.

Lactose intolerance

The enzyme which breaks down lactose - found in dairy products - is in the lining of the bowel. This is damaged in those with undiagnosed coeliac disease. Diarrhoea, stomach pain and nausea are among the symptoms of this condition.

Type 1 Diabetes and thyroid disease

“People who have coeliac disease have the genes for autoimmune conditions, therefore they are more likely to get or already have conditions such as type 1 diabetes or auto-immune thyroid disease,” explains Crothers.

Those who have any of these symptoms should visit their GP for a test, and not self-manage their condition, as coeliac disease requires specialist help. Consult a dietician rather than a nutritionist, says Crothers, as the former are the only professionals regulated to give patients advice.