Damage to the small intestine and the resulting problems with nutrient absorption put a person with celiac disease at risk for several diseases and health problems.
Lymphoma and adenocarcinoma are types of cancer that can develop in the intestine.
Osteoporosis is a condition which the bones become weak, brittle and prone to breaking. Poor calcium absorbtion is a contributing factor to osteoporosis.
Miscarriage and congenital malformation of the baby, such as neural tube defects, are risks for untreated pregnant women with celiac disease because of malabsorbtion of nutrients.
Short stature results when childhood celiac disease prevents nutrient absorbtion during the years when nutrition is critical to a child's normal growth and development. Children who are diagnosed and treated before their growth stops may have a catch-up period.
Seizures or convulsions result from inadequate absorbtion of folic acid. Lack of folic acid causes calcium deposits, called calcifications, to form in the brain, which in turn causes seizures.
