Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTerms to KnowSymptomsSelf-Guided QuestionsCommon Trigger FoodsDiagnosisTreatmentChanging Eating Patterns
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Terms to Know
Symptoms
Self-Guided Questions
Common Trigger Foods
Diagnosis
Treatment
Changing Eating Patterns
Gluten intolerance andceliac diseasearedifferent conditionswith similar symptoms. Celiac is anautoimmune diseasein which the body’s immune system destroys the lining of the small intestine when you consume gluten. Gluten intolerance is when you react negatively to gluten but do not have autoimmune markers, which are indicated on blood tests. The only way to differentiate gluten intolerance from celiac is with proper diagnosis and testing.
In this article, learn more about gluten intolerance and how it differs from celiac disease.
Gluten Intolerance, Non-Celiac, and Sensitivity: Terms to Know
When someone reacts negatively to gluten but does not have the autoimmune response that is characteristic of celiac disease, nor the allergic reaction that is characteristic ofwheat allergy, they may be diagnosed with gluten intolerance (non-celiac gluten sensitivity).
Not autoimmune
No damage to small intestine
No identified biological markers
Treated with a gluten-free diet
Autoimmune
Causes damage to small intestine
Genetic
Intolerance Symptoms From a Gluten Reaction
Gluten intolerance shares the same symptoms as celiac disease. These symptoms can be gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal.
Symptoms of gluten intolerance include:
Everyone’s experience of gluten intolerance is different. For some people, the first signs of gluten intolerance are bloating or diarrhea after a big pasta meal. For others, it may be fatigue, brain fog, or depression that comes on gradually and is more challenging to associate with eating a specific meal.
Causes and Risk Factors of Gluten IntoleranceScientists and medical providers don’t fully understand the cause of gluten intolerance, and this is an active area of research. According to some researchers, gluten intolerance results from an immune response in some people when they consume gluten.However, not all scientists agree.
Causes and Risk Factors of Gluten Intolerance
Scientists and medical providers don’t fully understand the cause of gluten intolerance, and this is an active area of research. According to some researchers, gluten intolerance results from an immune response in some people when they consume gluten.However, not all scientists agree.
If You Think You Have Gluten Intolerance: Self-Guided Questions
If you think that your body is having a negative reaction to gluten, consider starting a symptom diary. In it, record what you eat and the symptoms that result.
Self-guided questions to ask yourself regarding gluten intolerance and celiac disease include:
How to Talk to a Gastrointestinal (GI) SpecialistIf you suspect that you are having a reaction to gluten, schedule an appointment with a reputable digestive-tract-disease specialist known as agastroenterologist. You may even be able to find one at a medical center that specializes in celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Before your appointment, try to keep a log of your symptoms and what you eat.
How to Talk to a Gastrointestinal (GI) Specialist
If you suspect that you are having a reaction to gluten, schedule an appointment with a reputable digestive-tract-disease specialist known as agastroenterologist. You may even be able to find one at a medical center that specializes in celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Before your appointment, try to keep a log of your symptoms and what you eat.
Common Intolerance-Causing Gluten Foods
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye; it is prevalent in the Western diet.Most people consume gluten every single day in varying amounts.
Here are some of the most common gluten-containing foods:
How Providers Diagnose Gluten Intolerance
The only way to differentiate gluten intolerance from celiac disease or wheat allergy is to go through the proper diagnostic process to rule out those conditions first.
Testing typically involves the following:
People with gluten intolerance will test negative on blood tests and biopsies. However, they still have a suspected response to eating gluten.
If you have a negative blood test, your healthcare provider may guide you through anelimination diet or gluten challengeto confirm that your symptoms are truly coming from eating gluten and not something else. A dietitian and gastroenterologist specializing in gluten-related disorders can help you with this.
Continue Eating Gluten Before TestingCeliac disease tests only work accurately if you have gluten in your system, so continue eating gluten before getting tested. If you go gluten-free before testing, you may get a false negative result.For accurate testing, you would have to start eating gluten again, which could cause symptoms. For this reason, some people with gluten intolerance may not know if they have celiac disease or not.
Continue Eating Gluten Before Testing
Celiac disease tests only work accurately if you have gluten in your system, so continue eating gluten before getting tested. If you go gluten-free before testing, you may get a false negative result.For accurate testing, you would have to start eating gluten again, which could cause symptoms. For this reason, some people with gluten intolerance may not know if they have celiac disease or not.
Celiac disease tests only work accurately if you have gluten in your system, so continue eating gluten before getting tested. If you go gluten-free before testing, you may get a false negative result.
For accurate testing, you would have to start eating gluten again, which could cause symptoms. For this reason, some people with gluten intolerance may not know if they have celiac disease or not.
Treatment for Gluten Intolerance Side Effects
As with celiac disease, the only medical treatment for gluten intolerance is to follow agluten-free diet.However, the degree of strictness of this gluten-free diet may differ for people with gluten intolerance vs. people with celiac.
People with celiac disease must avoid all cross-contact with gluten since microscopic amounts can trigger an autoimmune response and damage the small intestine, even without symptoms. This means using clean cutting boards and utensils, clean water to boil gluten-free pasta, uncontaminated frying oil, and more.
People with gluten intolerance do not have the same internal damage when they eat gluten. As such, minimal gluten consumption is acceptable up to the point that it causes symptoms.For this reason, someone with gluten intolerance may be able to tolerate amounts of cross-contact.
How to Eat Less Gluten (Plus Gluten-Free Alternatives)
Going gluten-free doesn’t mean you must cut out your favorite foods. These days, there are many gluten-free alternatives on the market for your favorite breads, pastas, cakes, cookies, and more.
Gluten-free foods will probably taste different from what you’re used to, but for most people, it’s worth feeling better.
There are also many hidden sources of gluten, from ingredients including (but not limited to) the following:
You will have to learn how to read labels and recognize gluten-containing ingredients.
It’s normal to struggle to adjust to a gluten-free diet. It is hard to learn an entirely new way of eating and living. Consider seeing adietitian who specializes in the gluten-free dietto help you with this process.
Summary
Gluten intolerance is different from celiac disease because there is no autoimmune process. However, people with gluten intolerance can have all the same symptoms as celiac, including bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, constipation, brain fog, and more. The only treatment for gluten intolerance and celiac disease is a gluten-free diet.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Beyond Celiac.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity.Rotondi Aufiero V, Fasano A, Mazzarella G.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: how its gut immune activation and potential dietary management differ from celiac disease.Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018;62(9):e1700854. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700854Celiac Disease Foundation.Self assessment tool.Celiac Disease Foundation.Sources of gluten.University of Chicago Medicine.Two conditions that seem like celiac disease but aren’t.National Celiac Association.Where to find a dietitian.Silvester JA, Comino I, Rigaux LN, et al.Exposure sources, amounts and time course of gluten ingestion and excretion in patients with coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2020;52(9):1469-1479. doi: 10.1111%2Fapt.16075
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Beyond Celiac.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity.Rotondi Aufiero V, Fasano A, Mazzarella G.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: how its gut immune activation and potential dietary management differ from celiac disease.Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018;62(9):e1700854. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700854Celiac Disease Foundation.Self assessment tool.Celiac Disease Foundation.Sources of gluten.University of Chicago Medicine.Two conditions that seem like celiac disease but aren’t.National Celiac Association.Where to find a dietitian.Silvester JA, Comino I, Rigaux LN, et al.Exposure sources, amounts and time course of gluten ingestion and excretion in patients with coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2020;52(9):1469-1479. doi: 10.1111%2Fapt.16075
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Beyond Celiac.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity.Rotondi Aufiero V, Fasano A, Mazzarella G.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: how its gut immune activation and potential dietary management differ from celiac disease.Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018;62(9):e1700854. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700854Celiac Disease Foundation.Self assessment tool.Celiac Disease Foundation.Sources of gluten.University of Chicago Medicine.Two conditions that seem like celiac disease but aren’t.National Celiac Association.Where to find a dietitian.Silvester JA, Comino I, Rigaux LN, et al.Exposure sources, amounts and time course of gluten ingestion and excretion in patients with coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2020;52(9):1469-1479. doi: 10.1111%2Fapt.16075
Beyond Celiac.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Rotondi Aufiero V, Fasano A, Mazzarella G.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: how its gut immune activation and potential dietary management differ from celiac disease.Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018;62(9):e1700854. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700854
Celiac Disease Foundation.Self assessment tool.
Celiac Disease Foundation.Sources of gluten.
University of Chicago Medicine.Two conditions that seem like celiac disease but aren’t.
National Celiac Association.Where to find a dietitian.
Silvester JA, Comino I, Rigaux LN, et al.Exposure sources, amounts and time course of gluten ingestion and excretion in patients with coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2020;52(9):1469-1479. doi: 10.1111%2Fapt.16075
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