Celiac disease can cause diarrhea or constipation. Stools may be greasy, watery, or foul-smelling. The appearance of poop may depend on how much gluten a person consumes.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which a person’s immune system reacts to gluten proteins. Repeated exposure to gluten causes inflammation and damage to the gut, and a person may be unable to absorb food nutrients.
Malabsorption typically presents as diarrhea, but celiac disease may also cause constipation and other symptoms.
This article explores how celiac disease affects the stools, discussing symptoms and the appearance of poop. It also explains how people can manage stool changes, and answers some frequently asked questions.
Celiac disease
Experts define chronic diarrhea as loose or watery stools that occur
The Celiac Disease Foundation explains that people with classical celiac disease have symptoms of malabsorption, which can include diarrhea.
However, in nonclassical celiac disease, people may only have mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating or pain and seemingly unrelated symptoms such as fatigue or difficulty losing weight.
Celiac disease can cause constipation.
Someone who has constipation may have infrequent bowel movements and only poop
They may find it difficult to pass hard or lumpy stool. Additionally, this can lead to fecal soiling.
Learn about home remedies for constipation.
The appearance of stools can vary according to what symptoms a person with celiac disease is experiencing. What a person eats and how much gluten they consume may determine this.
Doctors may use the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) to assess an individual’s stool. This provides a guide to the appearance and consistency of poop, ranging from hard to entirely liquid.
A person with celiac disease may range from having fluffy or watery poop without solid pieces if they have diarrhea to lumpy, hard pieces of stool if they are constipated.
Celiac disease stools can also appear
- greasy
- loose
- bulky
Learn more about what can cause changes in bowel habits.
Apart from diarrhea and constipation, celiac disease may cause several digestive symptoms, including:
However, the autoimmune response in celiac disease can have further consequences.
The Celiac Disease Foundation explains that the body’s immune response to gluten damages the small fingerlike projections that line the gut, known as the villi. The villi help the body absorb the nutrients from food that we need for good health. Because this process is compromised in people with celiac disease, they may develop complications such as malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia.
People may experience only mild gastrointestinal symptoms if they have nonclassical celiac disease or no symptoms if they have asymptomatic celiac disease, which some people call silent celiac disease.
Learn about the first signs of gluten intolerance.
A gluten-free diet can help treat or prevent many celiac disease symptoms, according to the
Doctors may recommend this diet to help heal the damage in the gut and prevent more damage and further complications. Therefore, following a gluten-free diet may help to manage stool changes and regulate bowel movements.
Avoiding foods containing gluten
Gluten is present in many foods,
- wheat and wheat products, such as bread, pasta, and baked goods
- other types of wheat, including:
- rye
- spelt
- durum
- emmer
- triticale
- semolina
- barley, malt, malt extract, brewer’s yeast, and malt vinegar
- beer, lager, and ale
- processed foods, including:
- sauces
- ice cream
- canned foods
- candy
- condiments
- soups
A doctor may refer the person to a registered dietitian to help them plan their meals. People also need to be aware of food that manufacturers or restaurants have cross-contaminated with gluten.
In addition, they may need to use separate utensils and containers or items such as toasters in their own household.
Discover alternatives to wheat bread.
Avoiding products containing gluten
People with celiac disease also need to avoid medications and other products that may contain gluten. These may include:
- prescription and over-the-counter medications
- supplements, including vitamins and herbal remedies
- cosmetics
- skin and hair products
- toothpaste and mouthwash
- children’s modeling clay and playdough
If a person with celiac disease does handle products that contain gluten, it is important to wash the hands thoroughly before eating or touching the mouth.
Learn more about following a gluten-free diet.
What is the celiac disease poop color?
Celiac disease stool may be various colors depending on a person’s symptoms and if they are constipated or have diarrhea. Stool may appear pale and greasy.
What can trigger celiac disease later in life?
Gastrointestinal infections in early childhood
How long can a person have celiac disease without knowing it?
Beyond Celiac estimates that 6 to 10 years is the average time a person has to wait for a correct diagnosis with celiac disease. Up to 83% of Americans living with celiac disease either have no diagnosis or receive a misdiagnosis.
Celiac disease can cause diarrhea and constipation. Malabsorption may lead to greasy, foul-smelling stool, and poop can be pale in color and bulky. If a person is constipated, their stool can be hard to pass, and they may experience fecal soiling.
Sticking to a gluten-free diet and avoiding contamination by gluten can help people manage symptoms and stool changes.
A doctor or dietitian can help people plan their meals and advise about nutritional supplements to prevent deficiencies.