Celiac sprue symptoms and treatment
Celiac disease (alternately spelled coeliac disease), also known as celiac sprue or gluten intolerance, is a digestive disorder that affects the small intestine and the body's ability to digest gluten protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It is important to note that celiac disease is not a food allergy but an autoimmune disorder similar to Crohn's disease.
A celiac disease sufferer's reaction to gluten protein in their system causes the body's immune defenses to attack the small bowel tissue. This results in inflammation of the villi that line the small intestine, effectively killing them so they cannot absorb nutrients.
