Gluten is a protein found in many foods, including breads, pastas and cookies that contain barley, rye and wheat, according to MayoClinic.com. It helps a product stick together, aids the dough in rising, contributes to foods’ flavor and gives them a chewy texture. Although most people have no trouble digesting gluten, gluten can harm people who are sensitive or intolerant to it.
Gluten Intolerance
If you have gluten intolerance, or celiac disease, eating gluten causes an immune reaction in your small intestines that attacks the inner surface of the intestine, according to the American Celiac Disease Alliance. Inflammation and atrophy of villi – small projections on your intestinal wall – can cause you to have trouble absorbing calories, vitamins and minerals. Gluten intolerance can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea and anemia but may also contribute to conditions such as infertility, osteoporosis and neurological conditions.
Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten sensitivity is similar to gluten intolerance in that it means the body has trouble digesting gluten. It can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as upset stomach and may lead to fatigue, brain fog, headaches and tingling in the extremities, according to the University of Maryland School of Medicine. However, a major distinguishing factor is that gluten sensitivity isn’t as severe as gluten intolerance, and it doesn’t cause damage or increased permeability in the intestines. In a study published in a 2011 issue of “BMC Medicine,” researchers concluded that people with gluten intolerance and people with gluten sensitivity experience different immune responses to gluten.
Considerations
Get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible if you tend to experience digestive problems when you eat gluten-containing foods, if you are losing weight, if you are a teen failing to grow and if you have bulky and foul-smelling stools. These may indicate a sensitivity or intolerance to gluten. You may also consider getting help if celiac disease runs in your family. Getting a proper diagnosis is important, because gluten intolerance that goes untreated can cause permanent damage.
Getting Diagnosed
If your doctor suspects that you’re having trouble digesting gluten, he may call for a series of tests and procedures to pinpoint the problem. Blood tests can help detect certain antibodies in people who have gluten intolerance, taking images of your small intestine may help your doctor review your small intestine and tissue sampling can help your doctor determine more directly if your small intestine has been damaged, according to MayoClinic.com. If you show signs of gluten intolerance but you don’t have the antibodies associated with it and you don’t have damage in your small intestine, your doctor may diagnose you with gluten sensitivity. Still, removing gluten from your diet is helpful whether you have an intolerance or a sensitivity.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: A Glimpse at "Gluten Free" Food Labeling
- American Celiac Disease Foundation: What is Celiac Disease?
- University of Maryland School of Medicine: University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Identify Key Pathogenic Differences Between Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity
- Celiac Disease Foundation: Celiac Disease
- National Foundation for Celiac Awareness: Study Defines Difference Between Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity
- BMC Medicine: Divergence of Gut Permeability and Mucosal Immune Gene Expression in Two Gluten-Associated Conditions
- MayoClinic.com: Celiac Disease
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