Celiac diseaseis not a fatal condition.
Nutritional deficiency and an increased risk of lymphoma are known causes.
But there may also be other reasons that haven’t yet been clearly defined.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
The study followed 49,829 Swedish patients with celiac disease from 1969 to 2017.
The researchers emphasized that most people with celiac disease live long and healthy lives.
However, these results may further underline the importance of a gluten-free diet for those diagnosed with this disease.
Overall, the risk of dying from any cause was only slightly higher than normal.
Benefits of a Gluten-Free Diet
Not all studies contain bad news.
Those whose small intestines had recovered (as confirmed by testing) had a lower death rate.
Cheating on the diet wasn’t the only factor involved in ongoing damage and a higher death rate.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, and infections such as pneumonia accounted for many of those early deaths.
Although the studies are far from definitive, this is one more good reason to faithfully follow your diet.
2010;105(6):1412-20. doi:10.1038/ajg.2010.10
Lebwohl B. et al.Mucosal healing and mortality in coeliac disease.
