Related conditions
Autoimmune thyroid disease
People with autoimmune thyroid disease are at a higher risk of having coeliac disease. The chance is between 1 – 4% compared with 1% in the general population.
Find out more about coeliac disease and autoimmune thyroid disease.
Type 1 diabetes
Coeliac disease and Type 1 diabetes are both autoimmune conditions. People with Type 1 diabetes are at a higher risk of having coeliac disease. Between 4 and 9% of people with Type 1 diabetes also have coeliac disease, compared with 1% in the general population.
Find out more about coeliac disease and Type 1 diabetes.
Infertility
There is no extra risk of infertility problems for most women with coeliac disease who are following a gluten free diet. However, undiagnosed or untreated coeliac disease may be an underlying cause in cases of unexplained infertility. So coeliac disease, should be considered.
Find out more about coeliac disease and infertility.
Lymphoma and small bowel cancer
Lymphoma and small bowel cancer is a serious complication of coeliac disease. However, once someone with coeliac disease has been following the gluten free diet for three to five years, their risk of developing these specific types of cancers is no greater than that of the general population.
Find out more about coeliac disease and lymphoma and small bowel cancer.
Osteoporosis
Undiagnosed and untreated coeliac disease may lead to developing osteoporosis, which is where the bones become thin and brittle. This is because people with coeliac disease experience gut damage which might mean that calcium is not absorbed properly.
Find out more about coeliac disease and osteoporosis.
Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance can be associated with coeliac disease as the disease damages the part of the gut where lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, is produced. Symptoms of lactose intolerance are similar to that of coeliac disease.
Find out more about coeliac disease and lactose intolerance.
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatitis herpetiformis, often referred to as ‘DH’, is a skin condition linked to coeliac disease. DH affects fewer people than typical coeliac disease, at around one in 3,300 people. It can appear at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in those aged between 50 and 69 years.
Find out more about coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis.
Gluten sensitivity
While the symptoms of gluten sensitivity or non coeliac gluten sensitivity can often be similar to that of undiagnosed coeliac disease, the two conditions are different.
The symptoms of non coeliac gluten sensitivity may be similar to those experienced by people with coeliac disease, but it is not clear how the immune system might be involved and there does not appear to be damage to the lining of the gut.
Find out more about gluten sensitivity.
Neurological conditions
The most common neurological symptoms in people with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity are ataxia and neuropathy. Ataxia includes clumsiness, loss of balance and uncoordinated movements leading to a tendency to fall and slurred speech. Neuropathy causes numbness and tingling, usually affecting feet and hands, but it can affect other parts of the body. Other neurological symptoms can include headaches, sometimes associated with “foggy brain”, slow thinking and cognitive difficulties.
Find out more about coeliac disease and neurological conditions.