Gluten Intolerance / Allergy

Gluten intolerance or allergy is associated with a sensitivity to gluten, which is a substance found in staple foods such as wheat and barley. Gluten provides elasticity to dough and also helps the dough to rise.

Some of the major disorders that are related to gluten sensitivity include celiac disease (CD) and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Gluten-related disorders are on the rise across the globe.

Symptoms of gluten sensitivity

5 Signs and Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

The symptoms of a gluten sensitivity can vary greatly between each affected individual. When a gluten sensitivity develops during infancy, symptoms can include failure to thrive, developmental delay, abdominal distention, and sometimes severe malnutrition.

Beyond childhood, a gluten allergy can manifest as gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, constipation, gastritis, bloating, belching, as well as other symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, dyspepsia, anemia, weight loss, and depression.

CD

CD, which is also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting the small intestine. Studies have shown that about 1 in every 250 people in the US suffers from CD. A diet free of gluten has been shown to reverse most of the effects of this disease. Patients are serologically tested for antibodies against transglutaminase, endomysium, and gliadin.

‘Silent’ CD, which is associated with very few or no symptoms, is also a common health condition. Many patients who were identified as having CD in seroprevalence studies did not show any symptoms of the disease. However, asymptomatic patients are at equal risk of complications related to CD, Therefore, people with a family history of gluten-sensitive enteropathy are at a greater genetic risk of CD and therefore need to be tested.

Image Credit: Designua / Shutterstock.com

The timely diagnosis and treatment of CD are crucial to prevent grave consequences of the condition such as osteoporosis and even cancer. CD is almost always associated with anemia; in fact, approxiamtely 50% of patients with CD are found to be anemic. Iron malabsorption is very common in people with CD, as iron is normally absorbed in the proximal small intestine. Folate and vitamin B12 deficiency can also be present but are less common.

Dermatitis herpetiformis, which affects less than 10% of adults with CD, is a skin condition that is often misdiagnosed as nonspecific dermatitis or atypical psoriasis. Dermatitis herpetiformis causes intensely pruritic rashes and is typically seen in the back, elbows, and knees. Moreover, the lesions appear similar to those of herpes simplex, which is why the name “herpetiformis” has been used to describe this specific condition. A skin biopsy is the common diagnostic tool used to detect dermatitis herpetiformis.

NCGS

NCGS is a disorder that causes both intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms to arise following gluten ingestion in people with no CD or diagnosed wheat allergy.

Studies have shown that NCGS is usually associated with neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. About 18 million Americans are estimated to have NCGS. Due to the lack of biomarkers available for clinical studies, NCGS is still not fully differentiated from other disorders related to gluten intolerance.

Gluten-free diet

A gluten-free diet aims to avoid foods made up of or containing wheat, rye, and barley, as well as their derivatives including brewer’s yeast and malt. Some of the safe substitutes for these common ingredients include rice, maize, quinoa, corn, potato, tapioca, beans, and nuts.

Many gluten-free products are commercially available, of which include bread, chips, cookies, and cereals. Support groups also exist to provide valuable information about gluten-free food products to affected individuals and their family members.

People on a gluten-free diet can still eat healthily by eating normal amounts of vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, nuts, and beans. Moreover, these individuals can also switch to a wide range of alternative products such as amaranth, buckwheat, cornstarch, pea flour, millets, potato flour, and soy flour. However, each of these grains is often grown and milled in nearby areas and is therefore at a high risk of cross-contact. Even minute amounts can be dangerous to the small intestine of people with a high degree of gluten allergy.

Although oats do not contain gluten in their natural form, there can be traces of gluten in commercially available oats due to cross-contamination. Therefore gluten-sensitive people should apply caution before ingesting oats.

References

Further Reading

Last Updated: Mar 21, 2021

Susha Cheriyedath

Written by

Susha Cheriyedath

Susha is a scientific communication professional holding a Master's degree in Biochemistry, with expertise in Microbiology, Physiology, Biotechnology, and Nutrition. After a two-year tenure as a lecturer from 2000 to 2002, where she mentored undergraduates studying Biochemistry, she transitioned into editorial roles within scientific publishing. She has accumulated nearly two decades of experience in medical communication, assuming diverse roles in research, writing, editing, and editorial management.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Cheriyedath, Susha. (2021, March 21). Gluten Intolerance / Allergy. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 31, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Gluten-Intolerance-Allergy.aspx.

  • MLA

    Cheriyedath, Susha. "Gluten Intolerance / Allergy". News-Medical. 31 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Gluten-Intolerance-Allergy.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Cheriyedath, Susha. "Gluten Intolerance / Allergy". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Gluten-Intolerance-Allergy.aspx. (accessed October 31, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Cheriyedath, Susha. 2021. Gluten Intolerance / Allergy. News-Medical, viewed 31 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Gluten-Intolerance-Allergy.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Social media analysis reveals patterns in seasonal allergies