Gluten not properly broken down is associated with which condition?

• A. Coeliac disease
• B. Crohn's disease
• C. Irritable bowel syndrome
• D. Lactose intolerance

Answer: (A)

Gluten peptides that aren’t fully broken down can trigger an autoimmune reaction in people who are genetically predisposed, leading to inflammation and damage to the lining of the small intestine. This immune response impairs nutrient absorption and is characteristic of coeliac disease. Other conditions listed aren’t driven by gluten in the same way: Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the GI tract and isn’t caused specifically by gluten; irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder with pain and bowel habit changes but no immune-mediated intestinal damage; lactose intolerance results from a deficiency of lactase, not gluten. So the association with gluten not being properly broken down points to coeliac disease.