Stomach pain may or may not be related to corn. Most people can digest corn without any adverse reactions. If you notice that consuming corn causes unwanted digestive symptoms, such as stomach pain, call your doctor. Your pain may the result of a food-related condition, such as a food allergy or food intolerance. The stomach pain may also be related to a common digestive condition called irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. Your family doctor or gastroenterologist will be able to provide you with a clinical diagnosis.
Food Allergy
You can have an allergic reaction to any food. Although corn is not a common food allergen, a reaction to this vegetable can cause stomach pain. Stomach pain from a corn allergy will develop within minutes of ingesting corn and is the result of inflammation throughout your digestive system. Having a corn allergy means that your immune system is hypersensitive to the proteins in corn, according to the Mayo Clinic. The body releases chemicals that attempt to fight off the corn proteins but result in inflammation in some soft tissues, such as your intestines.
Corn Intolerance
The University of Maryland Medical Center states that corn is a common food that can trigger intolerance. Food intolerance is the inability of your digestive system to digest a certain aspect of corn appropriately, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Corn intolerance does not cause your immune system to react but instead is the result of a lack of the appropriate enzymes needed to digest the vegetable. Without these enzymes, proteins from the vegetable remain undigested, causing the irritation. Common symptoms may include stomach pain, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloating and gas.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
If you have irritable bowel syndrome, eating corn may trigger your symptoms. IBS causes bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation when you eat certain foods. The condition does not cause any harm to your digestive system but does cause mild to severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Not everyone with IBS can eat the same foods. Corn may not affect one person with IBS, but may cause severe stomach pain in someone else with the condition.
Other Considerations
Your stomach pain may be related to another ingredient in the corn you're eating. For example, many canned vegetables contain a flavor enhancer, called monosodium glutamate, or MSG. MSG has been reported to cause stomach pain in some people, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Creamed corn may contain diary, which could cause stomach pain if you're lactose intolerant.
