Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance

There has been an explosion in awareness about gluten intolerance and gluten-free diets in recent years. Millions of people have been diagnosed as celiac, gluten intolerant or allergic to wheat or the gluten in wheat, rye and barley.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by the protein gluten. It causes an immune response in the body that can lead a host of illnesses, including hepatitis and abdominal cancer. Most often, it affects the digestive tract, the neurological system and the immune system. Symptoms of the disease are as varied as the people who have it. Some celiacs have no symptoms at all, while others have severe and potentially deadly complications. 

Dr. Doherty can determine if you need to remove gluten from your diet, and once you’ve gone gluten free, help you to fully recover from the nutritional deficiencies and other effects of gluten intolerance.

Celiac Testing

It is very important to be tested for celiac disease before adopting a gluten-free diet, because once gluten is eliminated, celiac testing is no longer accurate.

Diagnosing celiac disease involves a blood test. If you test positive, the diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy of the small intestine. Testing is important in determining if you require a lifelong gluten-free diet or are at risk for associated medical conditions. Celiac disease is genetic so it is also important to know if your family needs to be tested. 

Nutritional deficiencies caused by celiac disease

The treatment for celiac disease is to remove gluten from your diet. The gluten free diet is often deficient in nutrients, so whether you are newly gluten free or have been gluten free for years you may be suffering symptoms related to nutrient deficiencies. Some people were so deficient when they went gluten-free that even a good diet isn’t enough to replenish the stores of certain nutrients.

Some of the common symptoms include:

• Anxiety, depression and "brain fog" can be symptoms of B vitamin deficiency.
• Fatigue, lack of stamina and feeling overwhelmed are common symptoms of iron deficiency.
• Magnesium deficiency can cause muscle cramping, twitching, muscle pain, high blood pressure and heartburn.
• You can develop osteoporosis from calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium and other deficiencies.
• Celiacs are at increased risk of infertility and miscarriage as a result of their poor nutritional status. 

Is it really Celiac disease?

Currently, there is no standard definition of gluten intolerance. Some people who don’t have celiac disease get sick from eating gluten.

Many people suffering from the symptoms of celiac disease may not have the autoimmune disorder. Instead, they may be gluten intolerant, or allergic to gluten-containing grains. Gluten is a spiral-shaped molecule and one of the most difficult foods for the human digestive tract to break down. Sometimes people with gluten intolerance are sicker than those with "true" celiac disease.

Wheat is also one of the most common allergens. Wheat allergy can have the same symptoms as celiac, like diarrhea, gas, constipation, skin rashes and fatigue.

Dr. Doherty believes that many people diagnosed with gluten intolerance actually have a wheat allergy, which can be diagnosed with an IgE blood test. The test is still accurate even after someone has gone gluten free, unlike the celiac tests. Most people with wheat allergies are allergic to the protein albumin and/or globulin and not to gluten, so there may not be a cross reaction with rye and barley.

Full Recovery

If you have been gluten-free and have addressed any nutritional deficiencies and don’t feel fully recovered, you may have other food allergies, be lacking in certain digestive enzymes or have an imbalance in the good bacteria (probiotics) in the digestive tract. Dr. Doherty is an expert in figuring out which of these things may be affecting you.

If you are struggling with any aspect of your diagnosis or gluten-free diet, please call us today at 603-672-3600 for an appointment. Dr. Doherty will go through your history, may order testing and will prescribe a customized nutritional program to speed your healing and recovery.