If you have celiac disease, you are well aware of the symptoms caused from eating gluten-containing foods. For these individuals, gluten triggers an immune response that can result in gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation and diarrhea or both. Other non-gastrointestinal symptoms may occur such as weakness or depression. It is the consumption of gluten in any form that can trigger these conditions.
Effects
A gluten-intolerant individual may experience a wide range of symptoms that shows how this autoimmune disorder affects multiple body systems. The effects stem from your body's reaction to gluten consumption. When the foods you eat reach your small intestine, the majority of nutrient absorption occurs. In a gluten-intolerant individual, the body reacts to the presence of gluten like it is a disease-causing bacteria and attacks it. The result is damage to the cavity of the small intestine.
Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance
These effects can lead to a host of symptoms including chronic diarrhea, constipation or abdominal cramping. The symptoms vary with the individual. Children tend to experience more gastrointestinal symptoms than adults. The source of the gluten does not matter. It is its presence in foods or beverages that trigger symptoms. If you typically experience either constipation or diarrhea from eating gluten, you may experience symptoms no matter if you ate a piece of bread or a stir-fry with gluten-containing soy sauce. A study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Universita Politecnica delle Marche in Italy, published in the January 2007 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” identified 50 mg per day as an upper threshold to prevent gluten intolerance symptoms.
Gluten Content
The gluten content of food varies across the board. Wheat and wheat by-products contain more gluten than rye or barley. Bearing this in mind, your gastrointestinal symptoms may be more severe if you consume wheat-based products simply because of the higher concentration of gluten. You may experience symptoms from consuming even a small amount of these foods because of their higher gluten content.
Prevention
In order to prevent gastrointestinal symptoms from eating gluten-containing foods, you must eliminate gluten from your diet. Manufacturers may label foods gluten-free voluntarily, following standards set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Since labeling is voluntary, you may not find this information available for all of the foods that you eat. If in doubt, you will need to contact the manufacturer to determine the gluten status of a particular product. By following a gluten-free diet, you can rid yourself of the discomfort of constipation or diarrhea caused from consuming gluten.
References
- Celiac Disease Foundation: Celiac Disease Symptoms
- Celiac Disease Foundation: What Happens With Celiac Disease
- FamilyDoctor.org; Celiac Disease; October 2010
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; A Prospective, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Establish a Safe Gluten Threshold for Patients with Celiac Disease; January 2007
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule; January 23, 2007
- Celiac Sprue Association; Gluten-Free Diet Self-Management; September 22, 2009
