Celiac Disease and Lactose Intolerance

The classic bloating, diarrhea, and upset stomach symptoms that come to mind when we think about celiac disease are actually a small number of potential symptoms of this autoimmune disorder. People with the classic symptoms can wonder whether they have celiac disease or another GI condition like lactose intolerance. Many celiac patients suffer from more than one disorder and are often surprised to learn how often celiac disease and lactose intolerance appear together.

The symptoms of celiac disease are like an iceberg. When an iceberg forms in the ocean, it is giant and dangerous, but only 10% of its size can be seen above the water. Like an iceberg, celiac disease often hides many of its symptoms under the surface, leaving people confused about their vague problems and worsening health. 

While suffering from lactose intolerance alone is common, for many people it is merely another symptom of silent celiac disease.

What is Lactose Intolerance?

Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt contain a sugar called lactose. To digest lactose in our body, we produce an enzyme called lactase. It allows the body to break down the lactase in dairy products and benefit from the nutrients without suffering upset stomach or uncomfortable GI symptoms. 

Some people have naturally low levels of lactase. These low levels are often genetic, but it is common for older people to have a reduced amount of lactase enzymes in their bodies over the years. 

When this happens, our body can no longer break down lactose when we eat dairy, and we can become lactose intolerant as we age. This can bring uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, stomach cramps, gas, and nausea.  

What is the Connection between Lactose Intolerance and Celiac Disease?

People with celiac disease can become lactose intolerant as a result of their disorder. When someone with celiac ingests gluten, the small villi in their small intestine become damaged. This changes the gut and prevents it from absorbing nutrients. 

In this damaged environment, some people can no longer digest dairy. This can add more distressing GI symptoms to people who may already be suffering from nutrient deficiencies, bowel problems, and a host of other celiac symptoms. 

Nutrition in Patients with Lactose Malabsorption, Celiac Disease, and Related Disorders

Our small intestine is responsible for absorbing as many nutrients as possible from the food we eat to keep our body healthy. When our small intestine is damaged from celiac disease, we can suffer celiac-related malabsorption and lactose intolerance, preventing our body from getting those vital nutrients.

For our body to get the nutrition it needs, we must address any underlying problem causing malabsorption and not let it go untreated. By seeking advice from your doctor and testing for these conditions, you can take control of your health and take steps to nourish and heal your body again.

Nutritional Deficiencies in Celiac Disease and Lactose Intolerant Patients

When the small intestine cannot absorb the correct nutrients, we become deficient in many of them, and our health can suffer. Being well-nourished is vital for both our physical and mental health. Many people with undiagnosed celiac disease develop symptoms of nutritional deficiencies. For some, these symptoms are the first clue of their silent celiac disease. 

A study found at least one nutritional deficiency in 90% of patients who presented with untreated celiac disease. These alarming figures are why it is crucial to diagnose or rule out celiac disease.  

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

One common GI disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, has many overlapping symptoms with classic celiac disease and lactose intolerance. These and other diagnoses should be ruled out when establishing that irritable bowel syndrome is causing your gut issues. 

An irritable bowel can cause diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and other bowel movement changes. These symptoms can be severe, cause pain, and affect people’s daily lives. 

Knowing your GlutenID from Targeted Genomics can help to establish a diagnosis for your uncomfortable symptoms or rule out celiac disease as a likely cause. 

Testing for Celiac Disease and Lactose Intolerance

Testing is available for both celiac disease and lactose intolerance. Some patients find they are suffering from symptoms of both. For many of these people, repairing the damage to the gut from celiac disease can restore their ability to digest lactose again. For others, it does not return.

If you suspect you may be suffering from silent celiac disease or wish to rule out the possibility, a genetic CeliacID test from Targeted Genomics can let you know your genetic likelihood of developing celiac disease. 

Alongside blood tests and endoscopy procedures, genetic tests are part of the gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease. They are an easy and affordable way to begin the process of improving your symptoms and your health. 

Is lactose intolerance often misdiagnosed due to unscientific tests and self-diagnosis methods?

The symptoms of lactose intolerance often overlap with those of other conditions, such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and other intolerances. People commonly have more than one condition, and lactose intolerance can be a symptom of a further problem in the body. 

Can celiac disease cause malabsorption of nutrients in the body?

Celiac disease causes the villi in the small intestine, which are responsible for absorbing nutrients, to become damaged and stop being able to transport nutrition from food into the body. This can lead to severe nutrient deficiencies that people can be unaware of until they have specific symptoms. 

Receiving an early celiac disease diagnosis can help limit any damage to the body from deficiencies and speed up the healing of the small intestine. 

Is lactose intolerance commonly confused with milk allergy or other gastrointestinal conditions?

The overlap of symptoms can cause some confusion when diagnosing lactose intolerance. An intolerance to lactose and a milk allergy provoke different responses within the body but their symptoms can be similar in some patients. 

Other gastrointestinal conditions such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and Crohn’s disease can cause similar symptoms, often leaving people feeling confused. 

Is it true that gluten in cosmetics and shampoos does not pose a threat to individuals with celiac disease?

Celiac disease symptoms are triggered by ingesting gluten. For most people with celiac disease, shampoo, soap, and body care products are unlikely to cause problems as we do not ingest them. 

When we wear lipsticks, chapsticks, and makeup containing gluten, we can accidentally ingest them. Many people with celiac disease choose to use gluten-free cosmetics and body care products out of an abundance of caution. 

Can symptoms and dairy consumption patterns help determine if a person is lactose intolerant?

When we experience stomach upsets and GI symptoms, keeping a regular food diary is an excellent way to narrow down the problem. Writing down the foods you eat each day and the severity of your symptoms can help to shape 

Is it true that gluten can also be found in everyday products such as medicines and lip balms?

Any products containing gluten we ingest or use on the lips and around the mouth can find their way into the body and create damage in patients with celiac disease. 

People with celiac disease should be careful about the ingredients in medicine, food, and facial products they use, to avoid accidental ingestion and damage from any gluten. 

Is lactose intolerance more prevalent in adults worldwide than it is commonly perceived?

As lactose intolerance often begins to affect people as they age, many of us can miss the signs and dismiss the idea if we never had an issue with eating dairy in the past. 

Is celiac disease an autoimmune disease rather than a food allergy?

Unlike most other food allergies, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, not an allergic reaction. Its effects can be widespread across the body, causing malnutrition and a wide range of symptoms affecting many of the body’s systems. 

Can lactose intolerance cause symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea?

Diarrhea, gas, and bloating are some classic symptoms of lactose intolerance, along with stomach cramps and nausea. For many people, these symptoms can begin very quickly after eating food containing dairy.

Can individuals with autoimmune diseases have a false positive test for celiac disease?

There is a small risk of a false positive result for celiac disease in people suffering from certain autoimmune disorders. The same is true the other way around. People with untreated celiac disease can receive false positive results for other autoimmune diseases.