Airborne Gluten?

[annamarie6655]

Hello everyone,

I was on here a few months ago trying to figure out if I was reacting to something other than gluten, to which a very helpful response was that it could be xanthin or guar gum. 
 

Since then, I have eaten items with both of those ingredients in it and I have not reacted to it, so my mystery reaction to the Digiorno pizza remains. 
 

HOWEVER, I realized something recently- the last time I got glutened and the most recent time I got glutened, I truly never ate anything with gluten in it. But i did breathe it in. 
 

The first time was a feed barrel for my uncle’s chickens- all of the dust came right up, and most of what was in there was wheat/grains. The second time was after opening a pet food bag and accidentally getting a huge whiff of it. 
 

When this happens, I tend to have more neurological symptoms- specifically involuntary muscle spasms/jerks everywhere. It also seems to cause migraines and anxiety as well. Sometimes, with more airborne exposure, I get GI symptoms, but not every time. 
 

My doctor says he’s never heard of it being an airborne problem, but also said he isn’t well versed in celiac specifics. I don’t have the money for a personal dietician, so I’m doing the best I can. 
 

is there anyone else who has experienced this, or gets similar neurological symptoms? 

[knitty kitty]

Hello, @annamarie6655,

Yes, there's many of us who react to airborne gluten!   Yes, animal feed, whether for chickens or cats or dogs, can release airborne gluten.  I can get glutened from the bakery section at the grocery store.  

The nose and mouth drain into the digestive system and can trigger systemic reactions.   I find the histamine release in response to airborne gluten will stuff up my sinuses and bother my eyes.  High histamine levels do cause anxiety and migraines.  The muscle spasms can be caused by high histamine, too.  The digestive system may not manifest symptoms without a higher level of gluten exposure.  

Our bodies make an enzyme, DAO (diamine oxidase), to break down histamine.   Pyridoxine B 6, Cobalamine B12, Vitamin C, copper, zinc, and iron are needed to make DAO.  DAO supplements are available over the counter.  Taking a B Complex supplement and additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine or TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) helps reduce the amount of histamine being released.  Mast cells without sufficient Thiamine have an itchy trigger finger and release histamine at the slightest provocation.  Thiamine helps mast cells refrain from releasing their histamine.  

 I find taking additional TTFD thiamine helps immensely with neurological symptoms as TTFD can easily cross the blood brain barrier without a carrier.  High histamine in the brain can cause the muscle spasms, anxiety and migraines.  Vitamin C really helps with clearing histamine, too.  

The Digiorno pizza mystery reaction could have been caused by a reaction to the cheese.  Some people develop lactose intolerance.  Others react to Casein, the protein in dairy, the same as if to gluten because Casein resembles the molecular structure of gluten.  An enzyme used in some dairy products, microbial transglutaminase, causes a gluten reaction because it is the same as the tissue transglutaminase our bodies make except microbes make it.  Those tTg IgA blood tests to diagnose celiac disease measure tissue transglutaminase our bodies release as part of the autoimmune response to gluten.  

You're doing great!  A Sherlock Holmes award to you for figuring out the connection between airborne gluten and animal feed!!!  

[MogwaiStripe]

I can't prove it, but I truly believe I have been glutened by airborne particles. I used to take care of shelter cats once per week at a pet store, and no matter how careful I was, I would get glutened each time even if I wore a mask and gloves and washed up well after I was done. I believe the problem was that because I'm short, I couldn't do the the tasks without getting my head and shoulders inside their cages, and so the particles from their food would be all over my hair and top of my shirt. Then I had to drive home, so even if I didn't get glutened right then, the particles would be in my car just waiting for me to get in the car so they could get blown into my face again.

I gave up that volunteer gig and stopped getting glutened so often and at such regular intervals.

[Jmartes71]

On 11/16/2025 at 4:34 PM, annamarie6655 said:

Hello everyone,

I was on here a few months ago trying to figure out if I was reacting to something other than gluten, to which a very helpful response was that it could be xanthin or guar gum. 
 

Since then, I have eaten items with both of those ingredients in it and I have not reacted to it, so my mystery reaction to the Digiorno pizza remains. 
 

HOWEVER, I realized something recently- the last time I got glutened and the most recent time I got glutened, I truly never ate anything with gluten in it. But i did breathe it in. 
 

The first time was a feed barrel for my uncle’s chickens- all of the dust came right up, and most of what was in there was wheat/grains. The second time was after opening a pet food bag and accidentally getting a huge whiff of it. 
 

When this happens, I tend to have more neurological symptoms- specifically involuntary muscle spasms/jerks everywhere. It also seems to cause migraines and anxiety as well. Sometimes, with more airborne exposure, I get GI symptoms, but not every time. 
 

My doctor says he’s never heard of it being an airborne problem, but also said he isn’t well versed in celiac specifics. I don’t have the money for a personal dietician, so I’m doing the best I can. 
 

is there anyone else who has experienced this, or gets similar neurological symptoms? 

 

[Jmartes71]

I also noticed I get debilitating migraines when I smell gluten, wheat and its not taken seriously when it affects one in every way.Im still begging to properly be heard.I also noticed tolerance level is down the drain with age and life changes. I have been told by incompetent medical that im not celiac or that sensitive. Diagnosed in 1994 by gi biopsy gluten-free ever since along with other lovely food allergies. Prayers

[Name]

Me too! I can't be around wheat when a friend is baking!