Celiac disease is considered incurable and the only treatment for it is removing all gluten from the diet. There are two different ways to look at supplementation with celiac disease, one is as part of disease management and the other is in treatment of vitamin deficiencies that are a result of uncontrolled celiac disease.

Studies are underway that examine the usefulness of B vitamins as a part of celiac disease management. The most current study conducted included 51 adults with celiac disease, and 50 healthy individuals that were instructed to take supplements of B6, folate, and vitamin B12.

Findings published in the world Journal of Gastroenterology showed significantly lower levels of the amino acid homocysteine which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. For celiac patients this means that even with damage to the small intestine that B vitamin supplements could aid them in treating the complications that can result because of celiac disease. Celiac patients often have very high levels of homocysteine which can put them at risk so it is good news for them that B vitamins can help prevent heart disease.

Perhaps the most important application for vitamins in the celiac patient though is treatment of the nutritional deficiencies that exist as a result of malabsorption. Most people who are diagnosed with celiac disease have some form of vitamin deficiency, with the most common ones being iron, vitamins A, B, D, K, calcium, magnesium, folic acid and essential fatty acids.  Zinc is another mineral that a celiac patient may be deficient in even if they are following a gluten free diet, so supplementation for this mineral may also be helpful.

In addition to this many people benefit from taking an enzyme supplement because people with celiac disease often do not produce enough digestive secretions from the pancreas. An enzyme supplement coupled with a gluten free diet can greatly aid underweight patients in putting back on the weight they lost while sick.

Doctors frequent recommend a high potency vitamin complex for the celiac patient with the hopes that even with the damage to the small intestine which can take years or months to heal completely, the higher potency vitamin can help ensure that enough of the vitamins will be absorbed as to begin the healing of the complications that come along with celiac disease.