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Can I be intolerant to gluten - but not be celiac? |
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Written by Dr Rodney Ford
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Sunday, 17 December 2006 |
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“I was tested for gluten intolerance: the test came back negative. But when I eat gluten I get sick, and it is even affecting my moods. Is it possible to not be celiac but only intolerant to gluten?” sincerely, Diane.
I Reply: Most people who are gluten-sensitive do not have celiac disease. Celiac disease is defined as gut damage from gluten (nowadays shown by high levels of tTG antibody and often by detecting gut damage by way of upper gastroscopy/endoscopy). BUT, gluten can cause a whole lot of other problems without causing gut damage. I call this The Gluten Syndrome. So, yes! You can be gluten-sensitive without having celiac disease. And yes! Gluten can affect your moods. There is lots of evidence that gluten affect the brain and nerve cells. For every one celiac, there are another ten people who react badly to gluten. You are one of these people. I recommend the IgG-gliadin antibody test to give an indication of gluten sensitivity (see the blood test page). Ken fine, at www.enterolab.com also recommends stool tests for gluten. Cheers, Dr Rodney Ford |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 February 2008 )
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