How Much Gluten To Consume Beffore Testing

[TestyTommy]

I'm a newbie, and I've been going through the message board archives to learn more about celiac. One of the things I've read in several places is that you are supposed to eat about 3 slices of bread for 3 months in order for the celiac test to be accurate.

Does anyone know the origin of the "3 slices for 3 months" rule of thumb?

I ask because on the celiac.com FAQ, Dr. Horvath answers the question "How long must gluten be taken for the serological tests to be meaningful?" with:

"Our recommendation is to ingest at least 0.3 g/kg/day of gluten for two months prior to the serological tests. However, if somebody experiences symptoms during the gluten challenge we recommend to perform serological tests earlier.

The protein content of wheat flour is between 7-15% and approximately 90% of the protein content is gluten. That means a slice of bread may have 2-3 g of gluten."

I weigh about 180 lbs, which is about 82 kg. At 0.3 g/kg, I'd need to eat about 24-25 g. of gluten, or about TEN slices per day. If you weigh about 110 lbs, or 50 kg, it works out to 5-6 slices of bread per day. That's a lot more than 3 slices per day.

Anyone have any thoughts/recommendations?

[KaitiUSA]

I have heard that from several doctors with good reputations with regards to celiac. You really need to be eating alot of it and if you have been gluten free for any period of time that is especially importamt.

[VydorScope]

I do not know the origin of the rule of thumb, but I can say I think its totaly wrong, and I would go with the numbers in the FAQ. Thats just based onmy expence.

[Merika]

I've heard some people make antibodies in 3 months, but *everyone* makes them in 6 months, so unless you start feeling really cr&ppy before 6 months, I'd go with that. If you've been eating gluten up til now, though, don't sweat it, just take the test.

Merika

[Canadian Karen]

I think, and although this is not backed up by scientific evidence, but I don't think anyone can put a "number" to the amount of gluten needed for testing. I base my belief on the fact that everybody's body reacts differently, some severely, some mildly, some not at all. You might have some who would react to three slices, but then again, someone who is micro-sensitive, might react to 5 crumbs a day. I honestly don't think there is enough knowledge about it yet to say definitively how much is necessary......

Good Luck with the testing!

Karen

[ebrbetty]

I was 98% gluten-free before my blood test, My Dr said "lets do it anyway, because there are so many ppl that get negative results even eating gluten" my results came back boaderline positive..he said if I was eating gluten everyday it would have been a higher positive result. I was told it stays in our system for 6 months, but I don't know if thats correct..I read so much on celiac disease and get so many different answers!

one Dr, my Gastro actually told me I could not possibly have celiac disease because I don't get diarrhea and thats the only symptom of celiac disease not severe stomach pain!!

[Canadian Karen]

one Dr, my Gastro actually told me I could not possibly have celiac disease because I don't get diarrhea and thats the only symptom of celiac disease not severe stomach pain!!

Yikes!!!!

Hope you didn't go back to him!

Karen

[ebrbetty]

LOL no never, but I will send him a copy of my blood tests!!

it took my primary care Dr to say lets test you, you've been in severe pain for a year everytime you eat!

[VydorScope]

I think, and although this is not backed up by scientific evidence, but I don't think anyone can put a "number" to the amount of gluten needed for testing. I base my belief on the fact that everybody's body reacts differently, some severely, some mildly, some not at all. You might have some who would react to three slices, but then again, someone who is micro-sensitive, might react to 5 crumbs a day. I honestly don't think there is enough knowledge about it yet to say definitively how much is necessary......

Good Luck with the testing!

Karen

ITs worse then that, some ppl liek me and my son will NEVER show postive on the main "screening" test, and yet still have celiac disease. Only the full panel might find it in our case. (Well did in his case, I never got hte full panel!)