Gluten sensitivity affects about 1 in 10 people and is characterised by bloating, reflux, bowel changes, loose stools, abdominal pain, mouth ulcers and some neurological symptoms such as headache, fatigue and depression. Gluten protein is found in many grains such as wheat, rye and barley. For those who are sensitive, these foods can cause severe disruption throughout the body.
Doctors used to think a person either had the condition called Coeliac disease (CD), which means that you cannot tolerate gluten or they could tolerate gluten. There was nothing in-between i.e.:
Normal/CD
However, doctors are now beginning to recognise a wider spectrum of diagnosis.
Normal ——————–> gluten sensitive ——————–> Coeliac
Whereas in the past, doctors believed that if you had a negative antibody test then you did not have CD and you were not gluten sensitive. Hey, no problem they thought….However, experts are now recognising that there is a spectrum of gluten intolerance and even though an individual may not have full-blown CD, they may still have a gluten sensitivity.
It appears there are people who are gluten sensitive, who when exposed to a trigger (possibly viral) could easily trigger CD. However, this sensitivity could have been underlying for a while.
Dr Kate Evans, Clinical Research Fellow & Honorary Lecturer, found that in many of her patients who were not considered CD, a gluten-free diet resolved many issues such as psoriasis (17% of her patients had psoriasis). More remarkably, many of her patient’s neurological symptoms also resolved. She found that symptoms resolution could take up to 2 months on a gluten free diet. This is because the lectins bio-accumulate in the body, often remaining months after ingestion of gluten has stopped.
Facts about Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten sensitivity affects 1% of the UK population.
Symptoms reported are: Bloating
Reflux
Irritable bowel syndrome
Iron deficiency anaemia
Diarrhoea
Suffers can have normal Body mass index or be overweight.
So, once again, even for patients who do not have full blown CD, there may still be a gluten sensitivity causing many uncomfortable symptoms.
Normal——> gluten sensitive——>latent——>Coeliac
Are you Gluten Sensitive?
If you have abdominal pain for more than 3 days in a month, or changes in your stool frequency, I would encourage you to consider gluten sensitivity as a possible contributor. I would strongly suggest that you ask your GP to for a blood test but be aware that these often produce false negatives, so the only way you can be diagnosed with CD is from a biopsy taken from the intestinal lining.
Once, CD is ruled out, I would recommend starting on a gluten-avoidance diet for a minimum of 2 months to determine whether your symptoms improve.
Gluten sensitivity and children:
Gluten sensitivity in children often shows up as eczema, frequent infection, reflux as a baby, asthma. In practice, I have seen children who are plagued by chronic infections and skin problems begin to flourish on a gluten-free diet.
In children, also look out for feeding difficulties, back arching, abnormal stools and low appetite. These are all typical of gluten sensitivity in children.
So is it gluten intolerance or IBS?
Since Coeliac disease is four times more prevalent in IBS population, doctors are recommended to screen all IBS patients for CD. However, even with a negative antibody and biopsy test, some patients may still be gluten intolerant. Before being labelled with IBS, make sure that you have ruled out gluten intolerance.
What other symptoms and signs are typical of gluten intolerance?
- Recurrent oral ulceration
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Depression
- Auto-immune conditions (such as type 1 Diabetes)
- Failure to thrive in children
- Fatigue
- Unexplained infertility
If you have gluten intolerance in your family, your risk for developing it will be significantly higher. Also, patients with auto-immune conditions or diabetes will be at higher risk.
Mental effects of gluten sensitivity
In my book “Is it all in your mind?”, I talk about the effect of gut problems on mental functioning. The gut is often called the second brain because the brain tissues are so similar to that found in the lining of the gut. The reason for the similarity is that as the embryo develops, one line of cells will divide to then become the brain and the gut.
I go into a lot more detail in the book, but basically many of the neurotransmitters that we normally associate with the brain, such as serotonin, are also produced and used in the gut.
It comes as no surprise then that many patients who suffer from digestive complaints will also be affected by mental changes such as depression, anxiety, poor concentration.
Wheat agglutinin can cross the blood brain barrier and attach to myelin sheaths in the brain’s nerve cells, inhibiting some of the brain’s functioning. As a result, mental health changes can be significant in gluten sensitive individuals.
I have countless times seen how patients who complain of digestive complaints resolve not only their gut problems on a gluten-free diet but as a side effect notice their mental health greatly improving
What to do if you think you may have a gluten intolerance:
There are many food intolerance tests on the market, but many of them are expensive and unreliable. Although it isn’t easy, the best test is to try a strict gluten-free diet for a period of 2 months to see whether your symptoms improve.
The gluten free diet:
A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Initially a gluten free diet may be frustrating but there are many foods that are naturally gluten free that can be incorporated into the diet. Although it can be a very big change, remain focused on the good foods that you can still eat – rather than focus on the ones that you can’t. The effort will be worth it.
Allowed foods:
- Beans, nuts and seeds (unprocessed)
- Fresh eggs, meat, fish and poultry (not marinated or batter-coated)
- Fruits and vegetables
- Amaranth, buckwheat, corn, flax
- Gluten-free flour
- Millet, quinoa, rice, sorghum, tapioca and soy
- bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, flour, pizza bases, cakes and biscuits.
- Gluten can also be found in foods such as soups, sauces, ready meals and processed foods such as sausages.
Conclusion:
Gluten sensitivity can cause a range of digestive, neurological and systemic symptoms and should be considered in anyone with long-standing unexplained chronic problems. A gluten-free diet in many cases can eradicate many of the symptoms in gluten sensitive individuals.
For more information, check out “Is It All In Your Mind?”
Charmaine Shepherd is an Acupuncturist, Director of the Centre for Holistic Health and Author of Is it all in your mind? 10 Steps to Resolving the Underlying Causes of Anxiety and Depression. Available on Kindle!
Charmaine has a sensitive and holistic approach to health-care. She is dedicated to helping individuals take control of their own health. "I believe in supporting the innate healing ability of the body through the use of natural remedies, nutrition and lifestyle,” Charmaine Shepherd.
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