Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in grains including wheat, rye, oats and barley. People with coeliac disease are sensitive to gluten. In this condition the lining of the small bowel is damaged by gluten ingestion, which affects the absorption of food and can lead to symptoms including weight loss, diarrhoea, iron and folic acid deficiency. A gluten free diet is the only long term treatment for Coeliac disease. Complete removal of gluten from the diet allows the gut to recover to normal over a period of time. Even small amounts of gluten are enough to prevent recovery or cause further damage.