Background: In celiac disease, the mucosa in the small intestine is damaged. This study was conducted to determine whether the normal peptide and protein uptake from the gut is increased in patients with celiac disease.
Methods: The low-molecular-weight peptides were measured in urine from children and adults with untreated celiac disease. A reversed-phase technique was used.
Results: The excretion of peptides increased compared with that in an age- and sex-matched reference group.
Conclusions: Celiac patients have hyperpeptiduria. It is possible that some of these peptides are bioactive and may mediate varying systemic effects also found in untreated celiac disease.