The Gluten-free diet and oncological prevention – the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people – A Literature Review
Introduction:Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals. If untreated, it leads to villous atrophy, chronic inflammation, and immune dysfunction. Studies show that active, untreated celiac disease increases cancer risk, partic...
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Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Quality in Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61424 |
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| author | Julia Wątor Alicja Podolska Patrycja Kolano Jerzy Krzeszowiak Barbara Chojnacka Tomasz Pulanecki Barbara Boba Sylwia Bryksy Aleksandra Ożga Agnieszka Woźniacka |
| author_facet | Julia Wątor Alicja Podolska Patrycja Kolano Jerzy Krzeszowiak Barbara Chojnacka Tomasz Pulanecki Barbara Boba Sylwia Bryksy Aleksandra Ożga Agnieszka Woźniacka |
| author_sort | Julia Wątor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction:Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals. If untreated, it leads to villous atrophy, chronic inflammation, and immune dysfunction. Studies show that active, untreated celiac disease increases cancer risk, particularly for lymphomas and gastrointestinal malignancies. The only effective treatment is a gluten-free diet. Recent research also suggests that regular physical activity may help modulate inflammation and boost immunity, potentially lowering cancer risk in autoimmune conditions like celiac disease. Aim of the Study: This review examines whether celiac patients are more prone to cancer and how a gluten-free diet modifies this risk. It focuses on cancers commonly linked to celiac disease—lymphomas, small intestine, esophageal, and hormone-related cancers—based on epidemiological, clinical, and pathophysiological studies. Materials and Methods: This review analyzes recent scientific literature, including cohort studies and meta-analyses, on the link between celiac disease and cancer. Increased risks are most evident for enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, small intestine adenocarcinoma, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Risk factors include chronic mucosal inflammation and immune dysregulation, especially before diagnosis or in those not adhering to dietary guidelines. Conclusions:A gluten-free diet is crucial for symptom control and cancer prevention, promoting mucosal healing and immune normalization. Long-term adherence significantly lowers cancer risk, often to general population levels. While data on stomach and colon cancer remain mixed, no elevated risk is seen in compliant patients. Interestingly, hormone-related cancers (e.g., breast, ovarian) may be less common, possibly due to altered hormone levels. Importantly, regular physical activity offers added protection by reducing inflammation and improving immune function.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de43a99b6531424eaafa559ae8e6cc93 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-de43a99b6531424eaafa559ae8e6cc932025-08-20T03:30:39ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-07-014310.12775/QS.2025.43.61424The Gluten-free diet and oncological prevention – the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people – A Literature ReviewJulia Wątor0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0120-5198Alicja Podolska1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7690-1406Patrycja Kolano2https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1706-5752Jerzy Krzeszowiak 3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8831-6565Barbara Chojnacka 4https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2978-9993Tomasz Pulanecki 5https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5662-2268Barbara Boba 6https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7939-8783Sylwia Bryksy 7https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7877-1541Aleksandra Ożga 8https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1279-543XAgnieszka Woźniacka 9https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7840-499XSilesian Medical University in Katowice, Poniatowskiego 15 Street, 40-055 Katowice, PolandThe University Hospital in Krakow, Jakubowskiego 2 Street, 30-688 Krakow, PolandMedical Center in Łańcut, Ignacego Paderewskiego 5 Street, 37-100 Łańcut, PolandDepartment of Medical Education, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Cracow, Santa Anne 12 Street, 31-008 Cracow, PolandDepartment of Medical Education, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Cracow, Santa Anne 12 Street, 31-008 Cracow, PolandThe University Hospital in Cracow, Jakubowskiego 2 Street, 30-688 Cracow, Poland5 th Military Clinical Hospital with Policlinic (SPZOZ) in Cracow, Wrocławska Street 1-3, 30-901 Cracow, Poland5 th Military Clinical Hospital with Policlinic (SPZOZ) in Cracow, Wrocławska Street 1-3, 30-901 Cracow, PolandWarsaw South Hospital, Rotmistrza Witolda Pileckiego Street 99, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland Hospital of Santa Anne in Miechow, Szpitalna 3 Street, 32-200 Miechów, PolandIntroduction:Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals. If untreated, it leads to villous atrophy, chronic inflammation, and immune dysfunction. Studies show that active, untreated celiac disease increases cancer risk, particularly for lymphomas and gastrointestinal malignancies. The only effective treatment is a gluten-free diet. Recent research also suggests that regular physical activity may help modulate inflammation and boost immunity, potentially lowering cancer risk in autoimmune conditions like celiac disease. Aim of the Study: This review examines whether celiac patients are more prone to cancer and how a gluten-free diet modifies this risk. It focuses on cancers commonly linked to celiac disease—lymphomas, small intestine, esophageal, and hormone-related cancers—based on epidemiological, clinical, and pathophysiological studies. Materials and Methods: This review analyzes recent scientific literature, including cohort studies and meta-analyses, on the link between celiac disease and cancer. Increased risks are most evident for enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, small intestine adenocarcinoma, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Risk factors include chronic mucosal inflammation and immune dysregulation, especially before diagnosis or in those not adhering to dietary guidelines. Conclusions:A gluten-free diet is crucial for symptom control and cancer prevention, promoting mucosal healing and immune normalization. Long-term adherence significantly lowers cancer risk, often to general population levels. While data on stomach and colon cancer remain mixed, no elevated risk is seen in compliant patients. Interestingly, hormone-related cancers (e.g., breast, ovarian) may be less common, possibly due to altered hormone levels. Importantly, regular physical activity offers added protection by reducing inflammation and improving immune function. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61424Gluten-free dietPhysical ActivityCeliac diseasehealthy lifestylecancer |
| spellingShingle | Julia Wątor Alicja Podolska Patrycja Kolano Jerzy Krzeszowiak Barbara Chojnacka Tomasz Pulanecki Barbara Boba Sylwia Bryksy Aleksandra Ożga Agnieszka Woźniacka The Gluten-free diet and oncological prevention – the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people – A Literature Review Quality in Sport Gluten-free diet Physical Activity Celiac disease healthy lifestyle cancer |
| title | The Gluten-free diet and oncological prevention – the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people – A Literature Review |
| title_full | The Gluten-free diet and oncological prevention – the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people – A Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | The Gluten-free diet and oncological prevention – the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people – A Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Gluten-free diet and oncological prevention – the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people – A Literature Review |
| title_short | The Gluten-free diet and oncological prevention – the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people – A Literature Review |
| title_sort | gluten free diet and oncological prevention the importance of a conscious lifestyle for physically active people a literature review |
| topic | Gluten-free diet Physical Activity Celiac disease healthy lifestyle cancer |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61424 |
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