Checking for Vitamin Deficiencies as a Celiac: As a health care provider and individual with a gluten intolerance, I have realized first hand the vitamin deficiencies that surround this disease.
As you may already know celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder.
With this diagnosis comes destruction of the villi that lines your intestines.
This villi is what helps your body absorb nutrients from food.
These deficiencies can be reversible but remaining on a 100% gluten free diet is crucial.
1.
Vitamin D : Is required for bone building along with calcium.
This vitamin is obtained from sun exposure.
With the fears of skin cancer and the increasing usage of sunblock, more and more individuals are becoming deficient.
Vitamin D also serves another great purpose, it's an immune modulator and decreases inflammation.
It helps to calm down an over active immune system, such as in autoimmune disorders.
Deficiencies can also lead to hypertension, cancer, osteoporosis, seasonal affective disorder, chronic pain, periodontal disease, and several other autoimmune disorders.
Daily intake can range from 1000-3000IU per day depending on the season, with winter being the time to increase dosage.
You can take too much Vitamin D supplementation and become toxic, though I rarely see this in practice.
Once you are on a daily regimen, its important to recheck blood levels in 3-4 months.
2.
B12: This is necessary for the metabolism of every cell of the body.
The absorption of this vitamin requires an intact and functioning gut.
In celiacs , this becomes an issue due to the destruction of gut lining.
B12 deficiency can cause severe and irreversible damage to the nervous system.
If the deficiency is not severe, the typical symptoms include: fatigue, depression, and memory issues.
B12 can be found in animal products such as meats, eggs, shellfish, and milk.
Vegans can easily become deficient unless soy products are fortified.
Daily recommendations for adults are 1000-2000mcg (micrograms).
It is important to recheck blood levels after supplementation in 3-5 months If you are a celiac or have a gluten intolerance, its important to check for these 2 vitamin deficiencies and correct them and continue a strict gluten free diet.
As you may already know celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder.
With this diagnosis comes destruction of the villi that lines your intestines.
This villi is what helps your body absorb nutrients from food.
These deficiencies can be reversible but remaining on a 100% gluten free diet is crucial.
1.
Vitamin D : Is required for bone building along with calcium.
This vitamin is obtained from sun exposure.
With the fears of skin cancer and the increasing usage of sunblock, more and more individuals are becoming deficient.
Vitamin D also serves another great purpose, it's an immune modulator and decreases inflammation.
It helps to calm down an over active immune system, such as in autoimmune disorders.
Deficiencies can also lead to hypertension, cancer, osteoporosis, seasonal affective disorder, chronic pain, periodontal disease, and several other autoimmune disorders.
Daily intake can range from 1000-3000IU per day depending on the season, with winter being the time to increase dosage.
You can take too much Vitamin D supplementation and become toxic, though I rarely see this in practice.
Once you are on a daily regimen, its important to recheck blood levels in 3-4 months.
2.
B12: This is necessary for the metabolism of every cell of the body.
The absorption of this vitamin requires an intact and functioning gut.
In celiacs , this becomes an issue due to the destruction of gut lining.
B12 deficiency can cause severe and irreversible damage to the nervous system.
If the deficiency is not severe, the typical symptoms include: fatigue, depression, and memory issues.
B12 can be found in animal products such as meats, eggs, shellfish, and milk.
Vegans can easily become deficient unless soy products are fortified.
Daily recommendations for adults are 1000-2000mcg (micrograms).
It is important to recheck blood levels after supplementation in 3-5 months If you are a celiac or have a gluten intolerance, its important to check for these 2 vitamin deficiencies and correct them and continue a strict gluten free diet.