by EBSCO Medical Review Board

Managing Nutritional Deficiencies

Damage to the intestine can make it hard to take in nutrients from food. This can cause health problems. For example, low levels of calcium can lead to weak bones.

Options to manage this problem are:

Supplements

Vitamin and mineral supplements like these may be needed while the intestine heals:

  • Ferrous sulfate—iron
  • Folic acid
  • Calcium—to maintain bone strength
  • Multivitamins, especially vitamins A, D, E, K, and some B vitamins

Nutritional Support

Severe damage may cause deadly health problems. This is not common. A person with these problems may need an IV to get nutrition. A gluten-free diet will be started once the intestines are healing.

References

Caio G, Volta U, et al. Celiac disease: a comprehensive current review. BMC Med. 2019 Jul 23;17(1):142.

Celiac disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/celiac-disease. Accessed January 4, 2021.

Celiac disease. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/malabsorption-syndromes/celiac-disease. Accessed January 4, 2021.

Treatment for celiac disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease/treatment. Accessed January 5, 2021.

Waheed N, Cheema HA, Suleman H, et al. Celiac crisis: a rare or rarely recognized disease. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2016;28(4):672-675.

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