Celiac Disease

What happens when I eat gluten?

The healthy small intestine is lined with small, finger-like projections called villi that produce digestive enzymes and absorb nutrients. In CD, the immune response to gluten damages the villi. They become shortened and enzyme production is impaired. Ultimately, the villi can be so damaged that there is little surface area left for absorption. A common analogy is that the healthy gut looks like a lush lawn of grass, whereas the untreated celiac gut is smooth and is often described as a "flatgut". All of these changes result in impaired digestion and absorption of nutrients, ultimately affecting nutritional status.