Coeliac disease 

Coeliac UK is the leading charity working for people with coeliac diseaseand dermatitis herpetiformis (DH). Our mission is to improve the lives of people with coeliac disease through support, campaigning and research.

Coeliac disease (pronounced see-liac) is not an allergy or simple food intolerance. In fact it's an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues.

In people with coeliac disease this immune reaction is triggered by gluten, a collective name for a type of protein found in the cereals wheat, rye and barley. A few people are also sensitive to oats.