What condition results from a person's inability to absorb gluten?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. When individuals with celiac disease consume gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, their immune system reacts by attacking the lining of the intestine. This reaction can lead to malabsorption of nutrients, causing various gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, and fatigue.

Understanding that celiac disease specifically involves an immune response to gluten helps distinguish it from conditions like gluten sensitivity, which may not involve the same autoimmune response, and other unrelated conditions like diabetes or lactose intolerance. While gluten sensitivity can cause discomfort upon gluten consumption, it does not cause the intestinal damage associated with celiac disease. Thus, celiac disease is the condition that directly correlates to the inability to absorb gluten due to the body’s immune response.