Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease Support in Salt Lake City: A Functional Medicine Approach
Celiac disease is one of the most underdiagnosed autoimmune conditions in the United States. For every person with a confirmed diagnosis, many more are living with undiagnosed celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, experiencing symptoms that span far beyond the digestive system.
At Salt Lake Functional Medicine, Dr. Tiffani Fries takes a comprehensive approach to celiac disease that goes beyond the standard advice to avoid gluten. Her goal is to heal the damage that gluten exposure has caused, restore gut integrity and nutritional status, and support the immune system so you can experience genuine, lasting recovery.
Understanding Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the ingestion of gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye – triggers an immune response that attacks the lining of the small intestine. Over time, this immune assault damages the villi, the small finger-like projections that line the intestinal wall and are responsible for nutrient absorption.
The result is a small intestine that cannot properly absorb nutrients regardless of how healthy the diet appears to be. This creates a cascade of nutritional deficiencies, systemic inflammation, and symptoms that can affect virtually every organ system in the body.
Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is often called a great imitator because its presentation is highly variable. Digestive symptoms are common but not universal. Many patients with confirmed celiac disease experience predominantly non-digestive symptoms, which is one reason diagnosis is frequently delayed by years.
Digestive Symptoms
- Chronic diarrhea, constipation, or alternating patterns
- Bloating and abdominal distension
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal cramping and pain
- Fatty, foul-smelling stools
Systemic and Non-Digestive Symptoms
- Chronic fatigue and low energy
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Joint and muscle pain
- Skin rashes, including dermatitis herpetiformis
- Headaches and migraines
- Peripheral neuropathy – tingling or numbness in hands and feet
- Bone density loss (osteoporosis or osteopenia)
- Iron deficiency anemia unresponsive to supplementation
- Hormonal disruptions including irregular periods and fertility challenges
- Depression and anxiety
- Mouth sores and dental enamel defects
Why a Gluten-Free Diet Alone Is Often Not Enough
The standard treatment for celiac disease is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet. This is absolutely necessary. However, many patients who are compliant with a gluten-free diet continue to experience symptoms for reasons that are rarely addressed in conventional follow-up care.
Intestinal Healing Takes Time
Even with complete gluten avoidance, the intestinal villi can take months to years to fully regenerate. During this period, nutrient malabsorption continues and symptoms persist. Targeted nutritional support is essential to accelerate healing and correct the deficiencies that have accumulated.
Cross-Contamination and Hidden Gluten
Gluten is present in many unexpected places, including medications, supplements, personal care products, and shared cooking surfaces. Even small amounts of gluten can trigger an immune response in celiac disease. Dr. Fries, DC helps patients identify and eliminate hidden sources of gluten exposure that may be perpetuating damage.
Secondary Gut Dysbiosis
Celiac disease disrupts the gut microbiome. Even after gluten removal, an imbalanced microbiome can maintain intestinal permeability and inflammation, preventing full recovery. Gut restoration is a key component of comprehensive celiac care.
Nutrient Deficiencies Requiring Direct Correction
The damage to intestinal villi in celiac disease impairs absorption of iron, folate, B12, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and magnesium. These deficiencies do not automatically resolve when gluten is removed. They require active identification and correction.
Coexisting Conditions
Celiac disease is associated with an increased risk of other autoimmune conditions, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. Identifying and addressing coexisting autoimmune activity is part of a thorough approach to celiac care.
The Salt Lake Functional Medicine Approach to Celiac Disease
Dr. Fries, DC works with celiac patients at all stages: those newly diagnosed and learning to navigate a gluten-free life, those who have been gluten-free for years but still feel unwell, and those with suspected gluten sensitivity who have not yet received a formal diagnosis.
Comprehensive Nutritional Assessment
Dr. Fries, DC conducts a thorough evaluation of your nutritional status, assessing the key nutrients most commonly depleted by celiac disease, including iron, B12, folate, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and magnesium. This guides targeted repletion protocols that support intestinal healing.
Gut Healing Protocol
Beyond gluten removal, Dr. Fries, DC implements a structured gut healing protocol designed to restore intestinal permeability, rebalance the microbiome, and reduce the chronic inflammation that prevents full mucosal recovery. This may include specific probiotics, gut-supportive nutrients, and anti-inflammatory dietary modifications.
Immune System Support
Because celiac disease is fundamentally an autoimmune condition, supporting immune regulation is a core component of care. This involves identifying other triggers of immune dysregulation, including additional food sensitivities, environmental exposures, and infectious burdens that may be perpetuating immune reactivity.
Hidden Gluten Identification
Dr. Fries, DC helps patients conduct a thorough audit of their diet, medications, supplements, and environment to identify non-obvious sources of gluten exposure. This is one of the most common reasons patients with celiac disease continue to have symptoms despite believing they are eating gluten-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a celiac diagnosis to work with Dr. Fries, DC on gluten-related symptoms?
No. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a recognized condition that produces many of the same symptoms as celiac disease without the same degree of intestinal damage. Dr. Fries, DC evaluates both celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity and builds the approach around your specific picture.
I have been gluten-free for years but still feel terrible. Can you help?
Yes. This is one of the most common presentations we see. Persistent symptoms despite gluten-free compliance typically indicate ongoing issues such as gut dysbiosis, unresolved nutritional deficiencies, cross-contamination, or coexisting autoimmune conditions. A thorough functional evaluation usually identifies the missing pieces.
Will I need to be gluten-free forever?
For true celiac disease, yes. Gluten avoidance is a lifelong medical necessity, not a dietary preference. Even tiny amounts of gluten continue to trigger the immune response and cause intestinal damage, regardless of whether symptoms are present. For non-celiac gluten sensitivity, the situation is more nuanced and can evolve as gut health improves.
How long does it take for the intestine to heal after going gluten-free?
Research suggests that intestinal healing in adults with celiac disease can take anywhere from one to several years of strict gluten avoidance. Targeted nutritional and gut support can meaningfully accelerate this process.
Take the Next Step in Your Celiac Recovery
Whether you are newly diagnosed, struggling with persistent symptoms despite a gluten-free diet, or looking for a more comprehensive approach to your celiac care, Dr. Tiffani Fries is here to help. Schedule a consultation and let us build a recovery plan that goes beyond gluten avoidance.
