Sufferers of coeliac disease are twice as likely to suffer coronary artery disease than the general population.
Coeliac sufferers also have a slightly higher risk of stroke, research presented to the American College of Cardiology shows.
The lingering low-grade inflammation in the gut could spill immune mediators into the bloodstream, accelerating the progression process for heart disease, researchers said.
Coeliacs need to be especially wary of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and high cholesterol, experts said.
