Your digestive system consists of your mouth, throat, stomach and small and large intestines. Proper digestion is important for your body to receive the nutrients it needs to function optimally. Inflammatory bowel disease and gluten allergy are two separate digestive issues that can sometimes exist together. However, it is important for you to understand the differences between the two.
Celiac Disease
Gluten allergy, also known as celiac disease, is an autoimmune condition. Your immune system is designed to recognize and destroy foreign invaders. If you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system responds abnormally to normal substances. If you have a gluten allergy, your immune system recognizes gluten, which is a protein in wheat, rye and barley, as a foreign invader. Your immune system produces antibodies that try to destroy the gluten, which can damage your small intestines.
IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease refers to a group of conditions that result in intestinal inflammation. Ulcerative colitis is one type of inflammatory bowel disease. UC affects the lining of your large intestines. You may experience bloody stools, weight loss, abdominal pain and diarrhea if you have IBD. There is no cure for IBD, however there are medications and lifestyle changes that can help manage your condition.
Differences
There is often confusion about IBD and gluten allergy. It is important to know that these are two separate conditions. It is a common mistake to think that a gluten allergy is causing your IBD. Having IBD does not mean that you are allergic to gluten. The cause of IBD is unknown. However, if you do have a coexisting gluten allergy, you must adhere to a gluten-free diet to prevent further damage to your intestines.
Concerns
Some individuals have IBD and gluten allergy. If you have IBD and suspect that you may also have a gluten allergy, your doctor can perform a blood test for anti-gluten antibodies. If antibodies are detected, your doctor may perform an intestinal biopsy to check for damage to your small intestines. If you have currently have a gluten allergy and suspect that you may also have IBD, your doctor can perform tests to help make a proper diagnosis also. This way you can manage both conditions.
