Which condition requires strict avoidance of gluten in the diet?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that requires strict avoidance of gluten in the diet. When a person with celiac disease consumes gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, their immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the small intestine. This can lead to a variety of serious health issues, including malnutrition, damage to the intestine, and a range of gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms.

In individuals with celiac disease, even small amounts of gluten can trigger a reaction, making it essential to completely eliminate gluten from their diet to manage the condition effectively and promote healing of the intestinal lining. Other conditions mentioned in the options, while they may require dietary adjustments, do not have the same strict gluten avoidance requirement. For instance, diabetes focuses on managing blood sugar levels rather than gluten intake, Crohn's disease may require specific dietary modifications but not necessarily gluten avoidance, and lactose intolerance is related to dairy but has no connection to gluten.