Episode 76: Is Going Gluten Free Just Trendy or Can Gluten Be a Problem if You Don’t Have Celiac Disease?

In today’s episode, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Toni discuss the spectrum of how you can react to gluten, from celiac disease to non-celiac gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance. Gluten issues can cause more than tummy troubles if you are sensitive and needs to be considered whenever you are experiencing any kind of inflammation. Common reactions can include: brain fog, fatigue, skin rashes, joint pain, headaches, boating and more. Gluten sensitivity is estimated to be 6 times more prevalent than celiac disease, which affects about 1% of the population, but about three quarters of people are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.  There are 3 major categories of gluten or wheat–related conditions:  * celiac disease* wheat allergy* gluten sensitivity (aka non-celiac gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance) Research by Dr. Fassano from Harvard shows that the frequency of common symptoms of gluten sensitivity: abdominal pain (68%) eczema or rash (40%)  headache (35%) “foggy mind” (34%)  fatigue (33%)  diarrhea (33%)  depression (22%)  anemia (20%) numbness in legs, arms, or fingers (20%) joint pain (11%).  What is gluten? Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in common grains like wheat, rye and barley. It provides a gummy consistency. What is celiac disease? Celiac disease is a multi-system autoimmune disorder that is triggered by the ingestion of gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Autoantibodies can be produced in your body and can be tested in the blood, along with genetic markers. If your antibodies are positive, the second step is a small intestinal endoscopic biopsy to look for atrophy of the villi along your intestinal tract. You have to be regularly consuming gluten for the test results to be accurate. This inflammatory autoimmune condition breaks down your gut lining, manifesting digestive symptoms and/or extraintestinal symptoms. Celiac disease is a serious disorder, resulting in an increased risk for nutritional deficiencies and development of other autoimmune disorders. The classical or typical symptoms of celiac disease include: * Chronic diarrhea* Abdominal pain* Malabsorption of macronutrients like protein, healthy fats and micronutrients like iron, vitamin B12 and other B vitamins, vitamin D and calcium* Weight loss Other symptoms of celiac disease are often considered as non-classical or atypical: * Anemia, osteoporosis or osteopenia due to nutritional deficiencies, also dental enamel defects* Extreme fatigue* Oral ulcers and burning tongue* Skin issues like eczema or dermatitis herpetiformis (raised blister with intense itching and burning) * Hair loss and brittleness* Liver enzyme elevation* Constipation, heartburn* Infertility (causes unexplained infertility in 5.9% of women), miscarriage, gestational diabetes* Migraines, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle aches and pains* Neurological problems like depression, anxiety, peripheral pain or tingling, balance issues  Children with celiac disease can have: * Short stature * Irritability* Vomiting Gluten sensitivity can be indistinguishable from celiac disease or wheat allergy based on your symptoms alone. Lab testing is needed!