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Gluten Intolerance

Gluten Intolerance Vs Celiac Disease – Which One Do I Have?

By August 22nd, 2012No Comments

Gluten Intolerance Vs CeliacWhen trying to diagnose oneself with either gluten intolerance or celiac disease, one has to understand the difference between the two disorders and be conscious of symptoms of gluten intolerance and signs of celiac disease. Gluten intolerance, also called gluten sensitivity, contains within it wheat allergy and celiac disease. We are going to compare gluten intolerance vs celiac disease to determine a person’s sensitivity.

Common symptoms gluten intolerance exhibits are often the same as those of celiac disease and include fatigue and weakness, gas and bloating, diarrhea or constipation, headaches, and weight gain or weight loss. Note that out of over 200 symptoms of gluten intolerance and disease most are not gastrointestinal in nature. Other less common symptoms include occasional pain in the bones, aphthous stomatitis or canker sores, discoloured teethe, irregular menstrual cycles, lack of concentration, mood swings, irritation and depression. The end results can speak of vitamin and nutrient deficiency, malabsorption of vitamins or malnutrition, bowel movement problems, and a resultant loss of body mass. So, what causes gluten intolerance? While there is no one definite cause established, genetics and previous damage of the gastrointestinal tract can provoke inner gluten intolerance and more reactions can follow when larger amounts of gluten are consumed. There is also a link to Candida as being the trigger.

While the symptoms of both disorders are similar, gluten gluten intolerance vs celiac is non – autoimmune and does not show signs of intestinal inflammation. By contrast, with celiac, this inflammation often flattens the villi (little spongy bumps which line your stomach) of the small intestine. This means that the stomach can no longer absorb nutrients and process foods properly, and the body has an immune reaction involving transglutaminase auto-antibodies. These are checked when detecting the disease and are not present in mere gluten intolerance.

Another major difference in gluten intolerance vs celiac disease is that gluten – intolerant individuals can develop this sensitivity at a later point in life, after an overload of gluten- filled foods found in everything from breads to cookies. By contrast, the disease has a strong genetic component. Usually the folk affected is more distinct in Europe and the disease is believed to be very rare among those of Asian and Indian descent, but no population is entirely excluded. Gluten sensitive individuals can feel better shortly after switching to a gluten- free diet and can sometimes resume some gluten- containing foods in the future, with caution. Gluten intolerance vs celiac disease analysis shows that in the case of gluten celiac sufferer, if a patient unknowingly keeps on eating gluten, there is a rising risk of long-term complications like osteoporosis and even gastrointestinal cancer. It is estimated that this type of cancer can develop in about fifteen percent of people if left unattended. Hence, a gluten celiac sufferer must avoid gluten at all costs throughout life as to avoid further intestinal damage and other potential severe illnesses.

New estimates suggest that gluten intolerance vs celiac disease is very common and may affect up to 30% of population, while the disease is found in about one in 100 people worldwide. However, it is estimated that about 97% of those affected by the illness remain undiagnosed. It is challenging to diagnose the condition since some of the symptoms mimic those of several other conditions, such as irritable bowel, Crohn’s disease, diverticulosis, colitis, and lactose intolerance.

So what happens when one turns to doctors to try and detect this disease? There is a search for anti- tTG antibodies. Sometimes to get more accurate results, a duodenalbiopsy is still required because anti – tTG results can sometimes be inaccurate. Scientists explain that when a person’s intestinal damage increases, it is traced back to a parallel rise in anti- tTG levels as well. When patients switch onto a gluten- free diet, their anti-endomysial antibodies respond well to the reduction of gluten. When doctors examine gluten intolerance vs celiac disease, some patients skip more rigorous tests such as an endoscopy, by having blood work done and immediately preventing further damage by creating gluten- free diet for themselves. It is a very good idea for adults to consider this type of diet even if they don’t yet exhibit alarming celiac symptoms. Sometimes it is best to prevent this type of damage at an early stage to spare oneself the uncomfortable and dangerous symptoms.

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