What is the Difference Between Celiac Disease and Lactose Intolerance?

Celiac disease and lactose intolerance are two distinct conditions that can present with similar symptoms, such as gastrointestinal issues. However, there are key differences between the two:

Nature of the condition: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, while lactose intolerance is a digestive issue.
Trigger: In celiac disease, the immune system reacts negatively to the consumption of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. In lactose intolerance, the body is unable to digest or absorb lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products.
Symptoms: Common symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Celiac disease symptoms can include digestive issues, as well as fatigue, headaches, and other non-digestive symptoms.
Prevalence: People with celiac disease often experience lactose intolerance, especially upon diagnosis. However, lactose intolerance is not exclusive to celiac disease patients, and anyone can be lactose intolerant.
Treatment: For celiac disease, the primary treatment is a strict gluten-free diet. In newly diagnosed celiac patients, secondary lactose intolerance is common due to the loss of lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar along the lining of the small intestine. Following a gluten-free diet can help the intestine heal, and lactose intolerance may resolve itself. For lactose intolerance, a low-lactose diet is usually recommended.

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Comparative Table: Celiac Disease vs Lactose Intolerance

Here is a table comparing the differences between celiac disease and lactose intolerance:

Feature	Celiac Disease	Lactose Intolerance
Definition	Autoimmune disease triggered by gluten consumption	Metabolic food disease involving the inability to digest lactose, mainly in milk and dairy products
Triggers	Consumption of gluten	Consumption of lactose, found in milk and dairy products
Symptoms	Digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating) and non-digestive symptoms (brain fog, muscle and joint pain, skin rash)	Digestive problems (gas, bloating, diarrhea)
Risk Factors	Family history of celiac disease, dermatitis type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease, microscopic colitis, and Addison's disease	Increasing age, ethnicity (African, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian descent)
Diagnosis	Autoimmune response, damage to the small intestine	Enzyme deficiency (lactase), gastrointestinal discomfort
Treatment	Strict gluten-free diet	Lactose-free or lactose-reduced diet

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system reacts to gluten, causing damage to the small intestine. In contrast, lactose intolerance is a metabolic food disease where the body is unable to fully digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products. While they are different conditions, lactose intolerance is often a common symptom of celiac disease, and both conditions may present similar gastrointestinal symptoms.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.