Can vitamin B be helpful in treating celiac disease?

Doctors often recommend B vitamin supplements for people who have celiac disease, a chronic condition in which the body has trouble digesting gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley. People who have celiac disease may experience uncomfortable symptoms including bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation. They also may become deficient in certain nutrients, like B vitamins, because they can't absorb them from food normally.

In fact, symptoms of B12 deficiency, such as trouble thinking clearly and anemia, are the first sign of celiac disease in some people. They may need to go on a gluten-free diet that is then supplemented with certain nutrients they may be lacking. Folic acid and other B vitamins are often among those supplements recommended by doctors treating people who have celiac disease. For more information about B vitamins, celiac disease or your own nutrient needs, consult your doctor.