FacebookWhile the gluten-free diet has become something of a fad in recent years, the truth is that gluten very is problematic for many people who suffer from celiac disease and gluten intolerance. For some, gluten consumption results in bloating, stomach pain, and diarrhea. For others, it leads to chronic long-term health problems and even severe skin reactions.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten but there are other gluten-related conditions that don’t involve an immune response. Gluten intolerance, for example, is a sensitivity rather than an autoimmune reaction. That being said, it can produce similar symptoms.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at gluten intolerance including what it is, what symptoms it causes, and how it can be treated.
Celiac Disease vs. Gluten Intolerance
Celiac disease affects roughly 1 out of every 133 Americans, or about 1% of the population. It is an autoimmune disorder that affects genetically susceptible individuals, causing them to respond negatively to gluten.
With continued exposure to gluten, the body’s immune response can damage the lining of the small intestine, resulting in chronic symptoms ranging from bloating and abdominal pain to fatigue, joint pain, and malabsorption.
Also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance is another matter altogether. While the symptoms of gluten intolerance may be similar, there is no immune involvement.
The primary difference between gluten intolerance and celiac disease is that while both may cause unpleasant symptoms, gluten intolerance doesn’t typically cause long-term harm. Symptoms of gluten intolerance may range in severity depending on the degree of sensitivity or the amount of gluten consumed. For individuals with celiac disease, even trace amounts of gluten can trigger a severe negative response.
For individuals with celiac disease, the only effective form of treatment is a lifelong gluten free diet. Individuals with gluten intolerance generally find their symptoms resolved by avoiding gluten but supplementing their diet with digestive enzymes may help alleviate symptoms without cutting it out entirely.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms?
As is true for celiac disease, gluten intolerance has been associated with many different symptoms.
With celiac disease, many symptoms are related to the body’s inability to properly digest food, though there are others that aren’t directly related to digestion. With gluten intolerance, most symptoms are gastrointestinal, though there are exceptions.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of gluten intolerance:
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Gas
- Headache
- Confusion
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
Any of these symptoms could be associated with celiac disease as well, though they may persist for longer than just the few hours after consuming gluten. Some symptoms that are generally linked to celiac disease but not gluten intolerance include itchy skin, mouth ulcers, and seizures.
How is Gluten Intolerance Diagnosed?
The tricky part about treating gluten intolerance is that there isn’t a definitive test to diagnose it. With celiac disease, a simple blood test showing elevated antibody levels in the blood is enough to raise suspicion. From there, an endoscopy is generally performed to check for the intestinal damage that would confirm the diagnosis.
Digestive symptoms can be attributed to a wide range of conditions, so it takes a lot of personal accountability to nail down the cause. If you observe digestive symptoms after eating, it’s worth paying closer attention or even keeping a food journal to determine the trigger.
Combined with your personal account of symptoms, a physical exam and testing can help rule out other conditions. You may never have an exact diagnosis, but your doctor can help you determine whether your digestive symptoms might be caused by gluten intolerance or something else.
Treatment Options and Home Remedies
Treatment of gluten intolerance is aimed at the reduction of symptoms. Because it is the consumption of gluten that triggers the problem, the best treatments involve some degree of dietary modification.
The two most common dietary modifications for gluten intolerance are the gluten-free diet and a low FODMAP diet.
The gluten-free diet, of course, involves completely removing gluten from your diet. This includes all forms of wheat, barley, and rye which are the three primary grains that contain the gluten protein. While following a gluten-free diet, however, it’s important to replace these foods with gluten-free options of similar nutritional value. Some gluten-free grains include brown rice, amaranth, and oats.
While gluten may be the primary trigger for gluten intolerance, some research suggests that other foods can cause digestive symptoms. Specifically, the study looked at FODMAPs.
Fermentable oligosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) are short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols which the digestive tract has trouble absorbing. Because they are poorly absorbed, these foods tend to produce gas and bloating which may also lead to abdominal pain. Some common high-FODMAP foods to avoid include cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, onions, corn, dairy products, certain fruits, and high-fructose and artificial sweeteners.
Aside from these dietary modifications, some people who are gluten intolerant find it helps to drink plenty of fluids and to take digestive enzymes to help improve digestion. If you decide to go that route, take an enzyme that contains dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-IV) which specifically helps break down gluten.
If you suspect you may be suffering from gluten intolerance, your first step should be to consult your physician. While making dietary changes on your own may not be dangerous, your doctor may first want to rule out celiac disease and certain tests won’t be effective if gluten isn’t still part of your diet.
With your doctor’s advice and plenty of patience on your own part, there are ways to manage gluten intolerance and find relief from troubling symptoms.
