Cataract Risk and Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats. The exact cause of celiac disease is unknown. The lining of the intestines contains areas called villi, which help absorb nutrients. When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products that contain gluten, their immune system reacts by damaging these villi. This damage affects the ability to absorb nutrients properly. A person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food he or she eats.

As a result of being malnourished, vitamin deficiencies are common in celiac disease (CD). Vitamin deficiencies are also associated with cataract formation, and a recent study confirmed that persons with Celiac disease are at increased risk of cataracts. Reporting in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found an excess and increased risk of cataract formation in Celiac disease sufferers.

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