The Link Between Celiac Disease & Cardiovascular Disease

Every day, researchers are working hard to get a better understanding of celiac disease and its various presentations, so let’s wrap up Celiac Awareness Month with the latest research on celiac disease! 

In February, a study published in the journal BMJ Medicine found that people with celiac disease were associated with a 27 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to participants who did not have celiac disease.

The risk of cardiovascular disease overall is high, with about 50 percent of people developing some form in their lifetime, so the fact that the study found a 27 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease in those with celiac disease, is important. The increased risk persisted despite the fact that study participants with celiac disease were more likely to have lower body mass index and systolic blood pressure and less likely to smoke, all of which are traditional risk factors for heart disease. 

Study takeaways: 

  • For those with celiac disease, it is even more important to avoid smoking, to exercise, maintain a healthy diet and to keep an eye on cholesterol and blood pressure 

  • Celiac disease is a serious lifelong condition and deserves to be taken seriously by clinicians

  • And we have much still to learn about celiac disease

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1. Conroy M, Allen N, Lacey B, et al Association between coeliac disease and cardiovascular disease: prospective analysis of UK Biobank dataBMJ Medicine 2023;2:e000371. doi: 10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000371   

2. King JA, Jeong J, Underwood FE, et al Incidence of celiac disease is increasing over time: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol 2020; 115:507–25.doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000523pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32022718

3. Naaraayan A, Nimkar A, Jesmajian S, et al Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevalence among patients with celiac disease in the United States: an observational study. Mayo Clin Proc 2021 ;96:666–76. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.04.051pmid: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33673917

4. Conrad N, Verbeke G, Molenberghs G, et al Autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular risk: a population-based study on 19 autoimmune diseases and 12 cardiovascular diseases in 22 million individuals in the UK. Lancet 2022; 400:733–43. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01349-6pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36041475

5. Grainge MJ, West J, Card TR, et al Causes of death in people with celiac disease spanning the pre- and post-serology era: a population-based cohort study from Derby, UK. Am J Gastroenterol 2011; 106:933–9.doi:10.1038/ajg.2010.506pmid: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21245833




celiac diseaseJessica PirnakCeliac Disease, celiac disease, gluten, gluten-free, symptoms of celiac disease