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How much gluten is in a normal diet, and how much does it take to cause damage in a celiac?*
- By Scott Adams
- Published 07/26/1996
- Frequently Asked Questions: Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet
- Rating:
Scott Adams
In 1994 I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which led me to create Celiac.com in 1995. I created this site for a single purpose: To help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives. Celiac.com was the first site on the Internet dedicated solely to celiac disease, and since then it has become an invaluable resource to people worldwide who seek information about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet.
In 1998 I created The Gluten-Free Mall, Your Special Diet Superstore! which was also another Internet first—it was the first gluten-free food site to offer a shopping cart-style interface, and the ability for people to order gluten-free products manufactured by many different companies at a single Web site.
I am also co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of Journal of Gluten Sensitivity.
The average gluten-containing diet contains roughly 10-40 grams of gluten per day. This figure is based on the amounts of gluten in your average slice of whole wheat bread, which contains around 4.8 grams of gluten (10% gluten by weight), and the amount of gluten in a serving of pasta, which is roughly 6.4 grams of gluten (11% gluten by weight). The smallest amount of gluten which has been shown by a biopsy to cause damage to a celiac is 0.1 gram per day (Catassi et al.). This is approximately the amount of gluten contained in 1/48th of a slice of bread! The biopsies in this study showed an increase in intraepithelial lymphocyte count, one of the earliest signs of damage. The challenge was on 10 patients (children) for 28 days each. Four of the patients showed an increase in IgA antigliadin antibodies. The intestinal permeability test remained normal. As always, Celiac.com welcomes your comments (see below).
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11 Responses to "How much gluten is in a normal diet, and how much does it take to cause damage in a celiac?*"
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02 Jan 2008 12:11:02 PM PDT Very good and thanks it really helped--I'm feeling a lot better.
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31 Jan 2008 7:01:55 AM PDT I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE CELIAC AND GLUTEN DISEAE I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT ALL I CAN THIS ARTICLE WAS VERY HELPFUL.
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07 Feb 2008 2:08:14 PM PDT This is a great article. I was just diagnosed with this disease and my stomach pain is unbearable. I will try anything to feel better
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03 Mar 2008 10:43:50 PM PDT I just learned (March 4, 2008) that it takes ONLY 1 molecule of gluten to damage a celiac's gut (and can include other organs, too!). So it would appear that ANY gluten is simply too much. Why even bother risking your health?
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11 Aug 2008 8:36:16 PM PDT This site is 'awesome'. I have been diagnosed for 1 1/2 years. I have a strict diet, but want to learn more
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08 Jul 2009 2:43:22 PM PDT Get up to date.
A later study by Catassi et al. showed that 50 mg of daily gluten, if introduced for 3 months, was sufficient to cause a significant decrease in the villus height/crypt depth ratio in the small bowel mucosa of treated celiac disease patients. One patient in this study had clinical relapse at 10mg of daily gluten. We all have differing sensitivities and this is finally being shown in newer research. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/1/160 |
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30 Aug 2010 10:36:42 AM PDT Well that is interesting information Adrian S. The article never said that we don't have differing sensitivities.
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04 Apr 2011 12:49:48 PM PDT I still don't get it. How much gluten can I take daily?
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05 Apr 2011 10:02:28 AM PDT None if you are celiac or gluten sensitive.
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03 Mar 2013 8:48:45 PM PDT I am a lifelong celiac, diagnosed at approximately 5 years in 1964. Back then, doctors thought you could outgrow it. I ate a gluten-containing diet in my 20' and nearly died. Strict gluten-free for the past 22 years. I can't even imagine willingly eating gluten. I carry (and have used) syrup of ipecac just in case. I just found this site. What a great resource for my recently diagnosed friends.
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01 Jun 2013 1:33:06 PM PDT Just wondering if anyone knows how much gluten I would have to eat for it to show up on a blood test and for how long? I've been gluten-free for a year and I either have a really bad gluten intolerance or celiac but since I did an elimination diet, I don't have an actual diagnosis.
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