Sensitivity to gluten can cause a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms. Low stomach acid, a condition known as hypochlorhydria, can also result in digestive upset. The two disorders are not necessarily related, although they share common characteristics. They can both lead to abdominal pain, bloating and nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorption of food proteins. Medical tests can help determine whether you have either of these conditions, so consult your health care provider if you suspect you are sensitive to gluten or have low stomach acid.
Gluten
Gluten, a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye, can elicit an immune response, or allergic reaction, in susceptible individuals. Gluten sensitivity exists on a spectrum, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Mild cases can cause headache, fatigue, tingling extremities and abdominal discomfort, while full-blown celiac disease results in an autoimmune reaction that can destroy the cells of your small intestine. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, your body is unable to fully digest the gluten in the foods you eat. Gluten sensitivity can also impact your body’s ability to absorb other nutrients.
Hypochlorhydria
Your body needs sufficient acid in your stomach to help digest protein, to minimize the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms and to help with the absorption of nutrients, including B vitamins, iron, calcium and zinc. In the condition of hypochlorhydria, the cells of your stomach produce too little acid to fully carry out these functions. Undigested protein can lead to gastrointestinal upset and can stimulate an immune response against protein fragments as they travel through your digestive tract. An overgrowth of harmful microorganisms in your gut can result in inflammation, and the inability to absorb nutrients can cause malnutrition.
Consequences
Both gluten sensitivity and hypochlorhydria can give rise to similar digestive symptoms and nutritional deficiencies. The inability, or diminished ability, to digest gluten or other food proteins can lead to an insufficient pool of amino acids – protein building blocks – in your body, leading to protein malnutrition. Gluten sensitivity that destroys the cells of your small intestine prevents complete digestion and absorption of the foods you eat, causing you to eliminate food components without benefitting from the nutrients they contain. Low stomach acid that does not allow absorption of vitamins and minerals can also lead to deficiencies, even if your diet supplies these nutrients.
Considerations
Gluten-related disorders and hypochlorhydria can affect your body in similar ways. They both can elicit an allergic reaction due to the foods you eat, and they can lead to malnutrition of one or more nutrients. Despite their similar features, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse does not correlate one condition with the other. However, the University of California-San Diego suggests that people with celiac disease might produce less stomach acid than those who can process gluten normally.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Celiac Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Researchers Identify Key Pathogenic Differences Between Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity
- ProHealth: Lack of Stomach Acid –- Hypochlorhydria –- Can Cause Lots of Problems
- University of California-San Diego: Indigestion, Heartburn, and Low Stomach Acid
