What causes coeliac disease and who can get it?
People with coeliac disease are sensitive to the protein gluten, which is found in food such as wheat, rye and barley. When you eat food that contains gluten your body thinks that the gluten is harmful and attacks it. This attack damages the lining of the small intestine, which prevents the body from absorbing nutrients, like starch, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals. This can lead to diarrhoea and malnutrition. Coeliac disease affects about one in 100 adults and children in the UK. It runs in families so you are more likely to get it if other family members have it.
