Food allergies and autoimmune reactions to food can cause a wide variety of symptoms, some affecting the gastrointestinal system and others affecting other parts of the body not obviously linked to the digestive system. Wheat allergy, gluten intolerance and celiac disease are three health conditions involving wheat. While all three may cause similar symptoms, they are actually three distinct conditions.
Allergy vs. Intolerance
A wheat allergy occurs as a result of an immune reaction against one or more of the components of wheat. The symptoms of a wheat allergy are similar to any other type of allergy: wheezing, breathing difficulties, runny nose, cough, hives or rash. In contrast, an immune reaction does not cause intolerance to either wheat or gluten; instead, the gastrointestinal system reacts to the food, thus causing gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, gas, diarrhea or constipation, explains the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. Allergies and intolerances usually do not cause any lasting damage.
Depression
Depression is not typically a symptom of a wheat allergy or intolerance. Instead, depression may be a symptom of a more serious condition called celiac disease, often confused with wheat allergy or gluten intolerance. While celiac disease and gluten intolerance both involve the wheat protein gluten, celiac disease is actually a different condition in which the immune system attacks and damages the tissues lining the small intestines when you eat gluten, explains the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. Unlike an allergy or intolerance, celiac disease results in lasting damage to the small intestines when eating gluten.
Other Symptoms
Part of the reason that celiac disease is often confused with wheat or gluten intolerance is that both conditions may result in gastrointestinal symptoms after eating wheat. Common gastrointestinal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation. When diarrhea occurs, it may be chronic or alternate with bouts of constipation, explains MedlinePlus.
Non-Intestinal Symptoms
One major difference between a wheat or gluten intolerance and celiac disease is that an intolerance usually only causes temporary symptoms in response to eating wheat or gluten, whereas untreated celiac disease can cause severe symptoms that last for a long time and affect parts of the body unrelated to the intestinal tract. Other non-intestinal symptoms may include anemia, fatigue, muscle, bone or joint pain, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, frequent canker sores, seizures or frequent miscarriages, reports the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
References
- The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center: Allergies and Intolerance
- The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center: Celiac Disease 101 -- Symptoms
- "National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse"; Celiac Disease; Kelly Ciaran, et al.; September 2008
- "MedlinePlus"; Celiac Disease -- Sprue; David C. Dugdale, et al.; January 2010
- "University of Maryland Medical Center"; Celiac Sprue; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; December 2009
