Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease
A 9-year-old Cambridge coeliac who has faced a daily struggle to absorb the essential nutrients her body needs, has boosted her levels of vitamin D to stay healthy.
Miranda was born underweight and fought off a rare autoimmune disease as an infant before being diagnosed with coeliac disease aged seven.
She still remains very slim, but mum, Rebecca, is convinced that her strict gluten free diet and supplementing her vitamin D levels is vital to her health and urges doctors and parents to talk more about the importance of supplementation.
Rebecca, said: “No parent would choose for their child to be coeliac. Apart from the obvious difficulties in choosing foods that are right for her, the problems with Miranda’s digestive system mean we face a constant struggle to make sure she has the vitamins she needs to stay healthy.
“My mum, Katrina, had researched vitamin D and we now know that deficiency is a serious problem, particularly for children and especially in countries at higher latitudes, like the UK, where absorption from sunlight is so poor.
“I discovered DLux1000, an oral spray supplement, and now Miranda has a spray under her tongue every morning before school. As any mum will know, finding something with a taste your child likes can be hard, but she loves the minty flavour and supplementation is now very much a part of our daily routine.”
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease. Gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye triggers an immune reaction in people with coeliac disease. This means that eating gluten damages the lining of the small intestine. The symptoms vary from person to person and can range from very mild to severe.
Some people with coeliac disease will also have conditions relating to the malabsorption of certain nutrients from the diet. A lack of vitamin D can cause osteomalacia — a condition resulting in soft, fragile bones, also known as rickets in children; and low calcium and vitamin D can cause osteoporosis — a loss of bone density that makes bones weak and more prone to fractures.
“Miranda recently had extensive blood tests and her levels of vitamin D3 were about the only nutrient at a healthy level. Her energy and happiness has also returned, so I’m convinced vitamin D is largely responsible for her overall health.
“I just wish that all families and GPs knew about the importance of vitamin D supplementation. I think the health benefits would be huge for UK residents, who cannot possibly maintain adequate Vitamin D levels with sunlight and diet alone,” Rebecca said.
The DLux range, which comes in four strengths for different needs, retails from £6.25 for three month’s supply.
Researchers at Cardiff University recently found that more than a third of DLux’s active ingredients are absorbed immediately into the bloodstream, via the tissue in the cheek and under the tongue.
Tagged in Health Healthy Body Vitamin D Gluten Free