Testing For Gluten Sensitivity & Celiac Disease
The proper gluten test tools must be used to accurately assess gluten sensitivity, whether in children or in adults. This is where a lot of people and doctors get confused.
Traditionally lab testing is only designed to diagnose celiac disease. Remember that gluten sensitivity is not a disease, but it contributes to the development of disease. Celiac disease is only one medical condition caused by gluten. Many people have other diseases caused by gluten sensitivity. If your doctor uses a gluten test to diagnose celiac disease on you and it comes back negative, it doesnt mean that you dont have gluten sensitivity. The intestinal biopsy and serum blood tests are examples of inaccurate medical tests for gluten sensitivity. A genetic sensitivity to gluten test offers the greatest degree of accuracy and when combined with a patients history and examination, identifying the need to go gluten free can be determined early and accurately. Gluten-Free Society offers genetic testing and educational services about gluten such as how common gluten intolerance is.
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Wheat Allergy: This Is A Real Allergy
People who are allergic to wheatactually, truly allergic to itsometimes also experience gastrointestinal symptoms and rashes, but they also experience more “typical” allergy symptoms, like a runny nose. People occasionally refer to a wheat allergy as a “gluten allergy,” but true wheat allergy doesn’t necessarily involve glutenit’s possible to be allergic to many different components of the wheat plant. Symptoms of true wheat allergy include:
- Nasal congestion
- Swelling of lips, tongue and/or face
- Nausea, vomiting and/or abdominal pain
- Difficulty breathing
The most dangerous potential symptom of wheat allergy is anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening systemic allergic reaction. People experiencing anaphylaxis from wheat allergy may find themselves coughing, wheezing or having difficulty swallowing their hearts may beat rapidly or slow down and they may have a large drop in blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency, so if you experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
Could My Symptoms Be Something Else
If you regularly have diarrhoea, bloating, tummy pain or skin rashes but youre not certain of the cause, see a GP.
A GP may be able to diagnose the cause from your symptoms and medical history. If necessary, theyll order tests, such as blood tests.
You can also do some research yourself. It may help to find out about other conditions that cause similar symptoms. For example, find out about:
The bowel is a sensitive organ and its common to have bowel symptoms when you have been ill or feel run down or stressed.
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Many People With Gluten Intolerance Don’t Experience All Of These Symptoms
The absence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you can rule out celiac disease: as I said, some people with gluten intolerance have no symptoms at all or suffer from neurological symptoms .
Many people who are gluten intolerant or have a wheat allergy may not experience any physical symptoms. Instead, they may suffer from depression, headaches, or other issues. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor to get diagnosed and start treatment, which often begins with a gluten free diet.
Gluten Allergy Symptoms: How To Know If You Have A Gluten Allergy
Its estimated that only 6% of the American population has a gluten allergy or intolerance. While its still unclear if the allergy affects Black Americans more than other ethnicities, its still important for you to know what a gluten allergy can feel like. If the issue isnt properly managed, it can negatively impact your day-to-day life.
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Diagnosing Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity
NYU Langone gastroenterologistsdoctors that specialize in diseases of the digestive systemare experts in diagnosing celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the digestive tract after a person consumes gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other foods and beverages. Some vitamins, medications, and personal care products such as lip balm contain gluten.
During digestion, food passes through the intestines, where nutrients are absorbed into the body. Most of this absorption occurs in the small intestine, where tiny finger-like projections along the small intestinal lining, called villi, sweep the nutrients from food into the bloodstream.
People with celiac disease, however, have a genetic susceptibility to recognize gluten differently. When someone with celiac disease eats food that contains gluten, it triggers the immune system to attack the small intestine. The body forms antibodies, or proteins, that attempt to remove gluten from the body as if it were a foreign invader. The antibodies also attack the lining of the small intestine, causing inflammation.
Over time, recurrent inflammation damages the villi in the small intestine, and the body doesnt absorb nutrients very well. This can lead to malnutrition and unwanted weight loss. The chronic inflammation also can cause abdominal discomfort.
What Causes Gluten Sensitivity
While the underlying cause is not exactly known, the cause of gluten sensitivity is the consumption of foods that contain gluten.
As we mentioned, gliadin and glutenin are the proteins that can cause symptoms of gluten intolerance to flare up. When people with gluten intolerance are not able to break these proteins down properly, then they can experience extremely uncomfortable symptoms.
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You Consistently Have Joint Or Muscle Aches
Chronic joint or muscle pain is a common symptom reported in studies of non-celiac gluten sensitivity .
The pain is said to be like that of Fibromyalgia, a condition which may be improved by going gluten-free, at least anecdotally.
As joint and muscle pain is a broad symptom, only consider it a possible sign if you experience several of the other symptoms.
Diarrhea Constipation And Smelly Feces
Individuals with celiac disease experience inflammation in the small intestine after eating gluten.
This damages the gut lining and leads to poor nutrient absorption, resulting in significant digestive discomfort and frequent diarrhea or constipation (
That suggests that gluten exposure on its own may induce feelings of depression, irrespective to digestive symptoms.
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Gluten Gliadin And Glutenin
The two proteins that comprise gluten, gliadin and glutenin are found primarily in wheat, but the proteins are also present in other grains, such as rye and barley. Gluten sensitivity is simply intolerance that causes the body to have an abnormal response when it attempts to break down the proteins during the digestive process.
Diagnosing Gluten Sensitivity / Gluten Intolerance
It is important to distinguish between celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, also known as gluten intolerance, in order to ensure you get the right care. Your doctor can test for celiac disease with a simple blood test. If your test results for celiac disease are negative but you still have symptoms, you may then be diagnosed with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Learn more about getting tested for celiac disease.
An important note on getting tested: you must continue to eat gluten. Going gluten-free before getting tested can affect your results. If youre already gluten-free but want to get tested, consider undergoing a gluten challenge.
Complete our celiac disease symptoms checklist and then share the results with your doctor to get the conversation about getting testing started.
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Celiac Disease: A Whole
When your healthcare provider hears you say “gluten allergy,” she’s likely to think first of celiac disease, which occurs when your immune system mounts an attack on your small intestine in response to ingestion of gluten-containing foods.
Celiac disease affects about one in every 133 Americans.
There are many different symptoms potentially caused by celiac diseaseevery case is different, and in fact some people don’t have any symptoms at all. But there are some symptoms that appear frequently in people ultimately diagnosed with celiac disease, including:
- Diarrhea and/or constipation
- Depression and/or anxiety
The absence of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you can rule out celiac disease: as I said, some people have no symptoms at all, or suffer mainly from neurological symptoms .
Testing For Wheat Gluten Allergy
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Are Gluten Intolerance And Celiac Disease The Same Thing
Gluten intolerance and celiac disease are different. People with celiac disease have an autoimmune response to gluten. This means their bodies try to fight against gluten as if it were a virus. This reaction causes inflammation and damage to their digestive tracts. Celiac disease is the result of an abnormal gene. People with celiac disease also have high levels of certain antibodies in their blood, which are substances that fight gluten.
Gluten sensitivity and celiac disease cause a lot of the same symptoms. But people with gluten sensitivity dont have an abnormal gene or antibodies in their blood.
Symptoms Of Gluten Sensitivity
Compared to people with celiac disease, people with NCGS have more symptoms that are not gastrointestinal in nature. The symptoms may also appear hours to days after consuming gluten. Here are some of the symptoms of gluten sensitivity:
- “Brain fog.” This is the most common characteristic of gluten sensitivity. Kids with brain fog may often feel tired, or like they just got out of bed. They may be especially forgetful, and may have trouble focusing or completing tasks.
- Headaches or migraines. Its not normal for children to experience chronic headaches or migraines. If your child is experiencing these symptoms, he should be taken to a doctor for an evaluation. It could be a sign of gluten sensitivity.
- Acne or rashes. Itchy elbows, knees, buttocks and the back of the neck has been associated with gluten sensitivity.
- Joint pain or numbness. Chronic joint pain and tingling and numbness in the fingers, arms or legs are clear signs of a health issue. In those with a gluten sensitivity, it happens frequently for no apparent reason.
- Diarrhea, gas or constipation
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You Always Experience Abdominal Pain And Bloating
Abdominal bloating is characterized by tightness and/or swelling in your abdominal region.
It occurs because of excess gas or disturbances in the muscles involved with digestion.
In a study of 59 adults with suspected NCGS, abdominal pain and bloating were the top reported digestive symptoms .
Its thought that a buildup of gas is the main cause in those who are sensitive after a gluten rich meal.
Do You Have Persistent Symptoms Of Gluten Intolerance
There are several telltale signs that you may have a food allergy or gluten intolerance. People with gluten intolerance may experience problems with their digestive system when they consume foods with gluten. Other symptoms can include fatigue and joint pain. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then it is important to see your doctor to determine if gluten is the culprit. Aside from an allergic reaction, you may have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
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How To Know If You Have Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
Your doctor can test you for celiac disease. If you dont have it, that doesnt automatically rule out non celiac sensitivity.
There is two ways to test for that: an elimination diet or stool testing.
The challenge with testing through elimination diet is that some people can have a delayed reaction to gluten. It could take up to 3 or 4 days for symptoms to develop.
The most definitive way to test for gluten sensitivity is through the stool testing. The GI Map tests gliadin, a common immune marker for gluten.
If gliadin has a value of over 100 on the GI Map it suggests mild gluten sensitivity. Anything over 150 suggests a severe reaction. Youll have consume a small amount of gluten within 3 months of the test to get an accurate assessment. One bite of bread is sufficient.
Stool testing is one of the most effective ways to detect gluten sensitivity. The anti-gliadin antibody can be found in fecal samples even when blood concentrations are undetectable.
High levels of fecal anti-gliadin antibodies will determine whether a gluten-free diet is mandatory for healing the gut. If so, there needs to be 100 percent compliance to a gluten-free diet. One exposure can restart the cycle of gut inflammation for months.
Surprisingly, some of my clients, who follow a gluten-free diet, have high gliadin antibodies. This indicates inadvertent exposure to gluten, where out or at home.
What Causes Gluten Intolerance
The exact causes of gluten intolerance arent well understood. Some research shows that people may not be sensitive to gluten, but to a certain carbohydrate found in many foods. Their bodies dont absorb the carbohydrate as they should. It stays in their guts and ferments, causing sickness.
Other research suggests that wheat might affect the lining of some peoples digestive tracts. This lining usually keeps bacteria from leaking out of your intestines. But in people with a gluten intolerance, the lining may not work as it should, allowing bacteria into their blood or liver and causing inflammation.
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You Often Experience Rashes And Itchy Skin
Skin conditions associated with intestinal diseases are becoming more frequent.
New research suggests that NCGS can cause skin lesions similar both to eczema and psoriasis, particularly on the elbows, back of hands and knees.
In a study of 17 patients, a gluten-free diet greatly improved symptoms after just one month .
Research is in its early stages though, and its unclear if gluten is a direct cause of these conditions, or simply worsens them.
Managing Food Allergies In Children
Because fatal and near-fatal wheat allergy reactions, like other food allergy symptoms, can develop when a child is not with his or her family, parents need to make sure that their childs school, day care or other program has a written emergency action plan with instructions on preventing, recognizing and managing these episodes in class and during activities such as sporting events and field trips. A nonprofit group, Food Allergy Research & Education, has a list of resources for schools, parents and students in managing food allergies.
If your child has been prescribed an auto-injector, be sure that you and those responsible for supervising your child understand how to use it.
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Wheat Allergy Vs Gluten Sensitivity
While the conditions are often confused with each other, a wheat allergy is not the same as gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity is not an allergy.
- A skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
- Gluten ataxia, a gluten-related brain and nerve disorder
- Gluten intolerance, which is a non-specific description of gluten-related symptoms
While wheat allergy involves IgE, gluten sensitivity does not involve this antibody. Gluten sensitivity occurs when gluten directly damages the small intestine in celiac disease or causes a non-IgE mediated reaction in non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten-induced dermatitis, or ataxia.
Wheat and gluten are present in many of the same foods, but they are not identical.
- Wheat is only one of several grains that contain gluten.
- Gluten is a protein that is present in wheatand also in the closely related grains barley and rye.
If you have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, this means you have to avoid all types of gluten-containing grains if you have a wheat allergy, you only need to avoid wheat-containing foods.
Test To Tell If You’re Allergic To Gluten
Am I allergic to gluten? You ask. Well, there’re several tests for this. A gluten allergy is oftentimes difficult to diagnose. Many other conditions can create similar symptoms to gluten allergies, including celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Additionally, symptoms can vary in severity depending on the individual. The only way know for sure is to have yourself tested.
1. Elimination Diet
The first test used to ascertain whether someone has gluten allergies is with an elimination diet. With an elimination diet, people who suspect a gluten allergy removes foods that contain gluten, such as pasta, or wheat, from their diet for a length of time to determine if the symptoms are resolved. Unfortunately, an elimination diet will not completely rule out a gluten sensitivity, or celiac disease.
2. Blood/Skin Tests
A food allergy test such as a skin prick test, or pricking the skin with a needle or pin containing a small amount of the allergen can and do show gluten allergies. However, celiac/gluten intolerance is not an allergy, and the skin tests for allergies will not show it. There are blood tests for celiac/gluten intolerance, but there can still be some false negatives. Therefore, its usually followed up with stool antibody testing to see if you are throwing gluten antibodies into your stool.
3. IgE or Cell-Mediated Test
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