It also covers ways to prevent or treat constipation if you are managing and living with CD.
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What Is Constipation?
You have constipation if you have fewer than three bowel movements per week.
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Occasional constipation happens to many people, but constipation is consideredchronicif you’re constipated for three months or longer.
How Does Celiac Disease Make You Constipated?
The targets are tiny, finger-like projections calledvillithat line the entire length of thesmall intestine.
However, for some people with CD, malabsorption can trigger constipation rather than diarrhea.
This is because, with malabsorption, food is less thoroughly digested.
Normal Constipation or Celiac Disease?
What Are the Other Symptoms of Celiac Disease?
The symptoms of celiac disease can vary significantly from person to person.
They found that 39% had constipation at the time they were diagnosed.
By contrast, only 31% had diarrhea as a symptom.
Other studies have not drawn the same conclusions.
Diet is generally the preferred, first-line method to treat and prevent constipation associated with CD.
Gluten-free foods are also low in fiber, which further contributes to constipation.
National Health Service (UK).Constipation.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definitions and facts for celiac disease.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of constipation.
Massachusetts General Hospital.Eating fiber to manage constipation while on a gluten-free diet.
Egan-Mitchell B et al.Constipation in childhood celiac disease.Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Pelleboer RA et al.Celiac disease is overrepresented in patients with constipation.Jornal de pediatria.
2014 Nov 18;14:194. doi:10.1186/s12876-014-0194-x
