of Coeliac Disease
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- What is coeliac disease?
- Symptoms of coeliac disease
- Causes of coeliac disease
- Prevention of coeliac disease
- Risk factors for coeliac disease
- Complications of coeliac disease
- When to see a doctor about coeliac disease
- Diagnosis of coeliac disease
- Conventional treatment of coeliac disease
- Alternative/complementary treatment of coeliac disease
- Living with coeliac disease
- Caring for someone with coeliac disease
Alternative/complementary treatment of coeliac disease
Alternative treatment is the same as initial conventional treatment of coeliac disease - following a gluten-free diet for life. It is best to see a qualified naturopath who has studied and specialises in nutrition, or a registered dietician who can develop a treatment plan just for you.
Herbs
There are a few gentle herbs which can be helpful in reducing symptoms associated with this condition:
- Chamomile - an excellent carminative, which helps the digestive system by relieving flatulence, plus it has calming and soothing properties. Chamomile tea is gentle and easy on the digestive system
- Peppermint oil - many studies show that peppermint oil is very effective at reducing spasm in the intestines and so are often prescribed by gastroenterologists for people who have crampy type gastrointestinal pains. Peppermint tea is also useful, but not as effective as the concentrated oil. Some people though, are not able to tolerate the peppermint oil and experience side effect symptoms from trying it - your doctor will advise you if this is suitable for you
- Slippery elm powder - this mucilaginous herb can help to relieve symptoms as it coats the intestinal walls and prevents further damage, pain, symptoms and soothes the intestinal mucosa
Vitamins
Several vitamins are useful in reducing the severity and recurrence of symptoms:
- B vitamins - all of the B vitamins may be especially malabsorbed and this could cause a deficiency which can lead to further adverse health effects
- Folic acid - the B vitamin folic acid may be especially malabsorbed and could contribute to the development of anaemia if a deficiency is serious enough
- Vitamin A - it is very common for people with coeliac disease to be unable to properly absorb fats and therefore fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin A. In addition to this, vitamin A is required to help maintain healthy mucous membranes in the small intestines (but all through the digestive tract) and it also helps the immune system function more effectively
- Vitamin B12 - one of the B vitamins, vitamin B12 may be especially malabsorbed and could contribute to the development of anaemia if a deficiency is serious enough
- Vitamin C - the antioxidant vitamin C is required by the intestines to reduce the damage from this condition and to help the immune system function more effectively in general
- Vitamin D - it is very common for people with coeliac disease to be unable to properly absorb fats and therefore may be deficient in fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin D which require fat for their absorption
- Vitamin E - it is very common for people with coeliac disease to be unable to properly absorb fats and therefore may be deficient in fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin E which require fat for their absorption. In addition to this, vitamin E is a potent antioxidant and deficiency of this vitamin may decrease immune system function
- Vitamin K - it is very common for people with coeliac disease to be unable to properly absorb fats and therefore may be deficient in fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin K which require fat for their absorption
Minerals
Several minerals are useful in reducing the severity and recurrence of symptoms:
- Calcium - the mineral calcium is really necessary to ensure that bone health is maintained properly. People with coeliac disease often have malabsorption of many minerals and it is vital that adequate levels of calcium are absorbed properly to prevent bone loss and ultimately osteoporosis
- Magnesium - the mineral magnesium is necessary to relax the smooth muscles that surround the small and large intestines and enable them to function properly when moving food through. Magnesium is also excellent for enabling the digestive tissue to be less inflamed
- Zinc - the mineral zinc is vital for helping any damaged tissue heal properly and quickly, plus it is vital for the immune system to function effectively and may help to effectively reduce severity and duration of symptoms
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Other nutrients
There are several nutrients that are beneficial in reducing severity and recurrence of symptoms:
- Carnitine - in the form acetyl-l-carnitine, helps to heal the stomach and intestines very effectively and quickly (and this effect is enhanced so that it works even better when used in combination with zinc)
- Digestive enzymes - bromelain and other digestive enzymes are excellent at helping the stomach and intestines digest and absorb the nutrients in food properly
- Essential fatty acids - help to reduce inflammation in the body and which can reduce severity and duration of symptoms. The most effective essential fatty acids (EFA) are the omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA and also the omega 6 fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) , which have been shown in many studies to reduce inflammation, especially when taken together in a ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 (ratio of the omega 3:omega 6 fatty acids)
- Glutamine - the conditionally-essential amino acid glutamine is an excellent nutrient for the stomach and small intestine as it helps the intestines function more effectively. In addition, glutamine also helps the white blood cells of the immune system function more effectively too. Glutamine is also needed to make the non-essential amino acid and neurotransmitter GABA, required for mood regulation and relaxation, so this is another way GABA can help to reduce symptoms
- Glutathione - the non-essential amino acid glutathione is an excellent antioxidant for the gastrointestinal tract and especially helps the immune system function more effectively, which helps reduce symptoms
- Probiotics - the live cultures in probiotics help to populate the gastrointestinal tract with "friendly" bacteria that will help with digestion and absorption and reduce some of the symptoms associated with this condition by reducing "bad" bacteria and ensuring proper digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs more effectively
Dietary modifications
There are a number of dietary modifications which should be adhered to help prevent recurrence of symptoms and reduce severity of symptoms:
- Avoid beer and other ales - as they contain gluten or wheat components, which need to be avoided in people following a gluten-free diet
- Drink organic cabbage juice - the juice of cabbage contains "substance U" which has proven ulcer healing properties and it can provide relief for symptoms by healing the mucosa of the intestinal wall, which means it can help reduce (and even prevent) symptoms
- Eat more garlic and onion - these are helpful for improving the function of the immune system in general
- Eat more oily fish - these fish have a higher omega 3 content which provide high dietary levels of the the essential fatty acids which are required to help reduce inflammation in the small intestine. The best fish to eat are: salmon, sardines, trout, mackerel and tuna and the fresher and wilder, the better
- Increase fibre - eat more fresh/raw fruit and vegetables and other non-gluten fibres every day to help the gastrointestinal tract function more effectively by strengthening its functionality. Increase intake of fibre gradually to avoid worsening of symptoms
- Read all food labels - it is vital to read all food nutrition labels to see if there is any gluten in the produce; usually most products will state if it is gluten-free, but if they do not, take care not to use any products with thickeners as they will be gluten based
- Remove all gluten from the diet - all grains (other than millet, corn, chickpeas and brown rice) must be removed from the diet to prevent and reduce symptoms
Lifestyle modifications
There are many changes which can be made to help relieve symptoms of coeliac disease:
- Relaxation - it is really important to help the immune system (and in fact, the whole digestive system too) calm down by engaging in some form of relaxation, such as meditation, tai chi, yoga
Alternative treatments
There are no other alternative treatments recommended for treating coeliac disease.
Always ensure that you notify your medical practitioner of any supplements that you want to take - it may interfere with other medication or conditions you have. Confirm with your doctor it is safe to take BEFORE you try it.
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< 9: conventional treatment 11: living with coeliac disease > Last reviewed: 15 August 2008 || Last updated: 26 February 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
