Not Allergic To Wheat

[Aightball]

I hope this is the right forum for this .

I was thinking back to my allergy testing in January...I am not allergic to wheat, but the allergy doc suggested avoid wheat/gluten to see how I feel. If I'm not allergic to it, do I still need to avoid it? Guess I'm just looking for something more go have in the diet, but while I feel great on this diet, wondering if I really need to avoid soemthing I'm not allergic to?

-Kel

[seeking-wholeness]

Kel,

When doctors say you're not "allergic" to wheat, they mean that you do not have an IgE-mediated reaction to it (like hives or anaphylaxis). However, celiac disease is mediated by IgA and IgG, NOT IgE. If you make anti-gliadin IgA and/or IgG antibodies, you MUST avoid gluten in all its forms to remain healthy, even though you are not classically "allergic."

I hope this clears up any confusion, and I'm sorry it's probably not what you wanted to hear!

[celiac3270]

Even if you're not allergic to wheat, wheat is a form of gluten, and therefore, you need to avoid it. "gluten-free" means "wheat-free, rye-free, malt-free, barley-free, etc." It is just a broad term referring to all these. You must avoid wheat....although you do not have an allergy to it, you do have a sort of intolerance to it.

[Guest gillian502]

I'm not allergic to wheat either, but eating gluten almost killed me. I know it's weird, but you can have celiac disease and still, like me, have no food allergies whatsoever.

[flagbabyds]

celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten, NOT an allergy, You can not outgrow it, you have it for life! If you feel great on the diet YES stay on it because you probably have celiac disease not just an allergy to wheat

[bonnieo]

Sarah,

Above you say that anyone who produces IgA and IgG anti-gliadin antibodies needs to avoid gluten to be healthy. I wonder if you could help me understand this further. My son's blood tests show he is producing both of these (as well as IgG to casein). But the doctor has advised me to remove only milk (in all its forms) from his diet. I'm wondering why he hasn't recommended removing gluten.

Thanks,

JO

[Guest gillian502]

Also I know that if a person produces only Igg antibodies, there is a chance they have another, different illness going on, not always celiac disease. But IgA and Ttg usually mean Celiac.

[Mark]

IgA and IgG anti-gliadin test could be false positive sometimes, especially when there is another illness going on (as Gillian has already mentioned). But it tells you there IS something wrong about gliadin, and I would rather support Sarah over your doc.

MARK

gluten-free/CF since September 03

[bob]

I too am sticking reluctantly to a gluten-free diet having been diagnosed with celiac disease by an endosocopy. I have had 2 follow-up endoscopies and my gut hasn't grown back (refractory sprue?). My doctor doesn't want to know any more, I get the feeling he doesn't believe I'm totally gluten free, but I know I am.

Strange thing is, I am pleased to say I feel absolutely fine. My adverse symptoms didn't go away by going gluten-free. but by eating little and often, avoiding excess alcohol, stress and taking plenty of exercise.

Everyone says how dangerous (eg Cancer, Osteoporosis) it is to carry on eating gluten when you've been diagnosed as celiac disease. I have read the science and I respect that.

But I would be interested out of curiosity to see the stats. Is there a PROVED correlation between, say, deaths by Cancer of the Oesophagus and celiac disease, in the same way as there is between Lung Cancer and smoking?

Bob

[tarnalberry]

This article in the American Journal of Managed Care Open Original Shared Link certainly implies that it is well-researched causation with lymphoma.

This article in a Polish journal Open Original Shared Link certainly implies there is a well-researched link with impared fertility.

This article in the European Journal of Gastroenterologic Hepatology Open Original Shared Link investigates the relationship to malabsorption.

You can find a lot of other research on Open Original Shared Link.

[bob]

Tiffany, thanks for that.

Best regards, Bob