Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Citric Acid Sensitivity

GFtraingirl

Recommended Posts

GFtraingirl Newbie
GFtraingirl
Posted

I have been gluten free for about 2 1/2 years, and, for the most part, I am feeling OK.

However, there is something that still bothers me at times, and I wonder if it could be citric acid. I ate earlier today, and had no stomach pain, yet a few hours later, after eating some gluten-free cookies which contains citric acid, I got the worst stomach ache. It has happened several times before, but I have never connected this pain and very sick feeling to citric acid.

For years, I have not been able to eat any fruit, other than an occasional banana and pineapple. Most fruits and fruit juices and fruit drinks give me bad stomach problems, as in pain and bloating, just like I had today.

I have searched here on the forums, but only found that some people posted something citric acid sensitivity in 2005; I feel I need more information. I have also goggled citric acid and realize now that my calcium citrate is made with citric acid. Frustrating since I have had really bad stomach problems lately, as in extremely loose bowls...

Any help would be greatly appreciated... :-)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


pele Rookie
pele
Posted

I quit eating anything containing citric acid last summer, because it did bother me. Also, citric acid is not usually made from citrus but made from grain. In some cases, citric acid or lactic acid might be made from wheat.

GFtraingirl Newbie
GFtraingirl
Posted
  • Author
I quit eating anything containing citric acid last summer, because it did bother me. Also, citric acid is not usually made from citrus but made from grain. In some cases, citric acid or lactic acid might be made from wheat.

Pele,

Thank you for your input. I am learning so much! Your comment just confirms what I have found out today: citric acid is not always made from fruit. I am going to stay away from it. Since I was so sick earlier today, I ate again once my stomach settled down. I ate something without citric acid, and I was fine. Great discovery!

NO more citric acid for this gal! :-)

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
Also, citric acid is not usually made from citrus but made from grain. In some cases, citric acid or lactic acid might be made from wheat.

I've never heard of this--do you have a link that you can share?

GFtraingirl Newbie
GFtraingirl
Posted
  • Author
I've never heard of this--do you have a link that you can share?

This link says that citric acid made from wheat is so "processed" that it no longer contains any gluten:

Open Original Shared Link

Not sure I believe that or not.

This web site suggests that citric acid COULD contain gluten:

Open Original Shared Link

This web site tells us that 90 % of citric acid is made from corn - and some of the last 10 % may be made from wheat:

Open Original Shared Link

This web site says citric acid is gluten free:

Open Original Shared Link

This web site tells more in detail how citric acid is made:

Open Original Shared Link

I know I do not tolerate fruit and berries very well - I never have, and I get sick every time I try to eat anything other than pineapple in moderation. I also know that earlier today I got sick when I ate something with citric acid in it, something I have suspected earlier. Today just proved it. Whether that is because the citric acid is made from wheat, been fermented with the use of yeast, which I also react to, or that it is simply too acidic for my system, I do not know. After more then 50 years of being undiagnosed with Celiac, my system is extremely sensitive to a lot of different foods and food ingredients.

It is a path we all must walk and find out what we ourselves can and cannot eat. :-)

RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

When I looked into citric acid, what I read indicated that most was made from corn.

However, two things stand out about your posts. One is that you're able to eat some pineapple without too much trouble. I wonder if this is because it contains Open Original Shared Link. Might this be an indicator that you need a digestive enzyme supplement? The other thing is that you are sensitive to yeast. What I've read seems to indicate that yeasts prefer an acidic environment. So perhaps the yeast multiply more rapidly when you eat citric acid. This makes me think you might have an intestinal yeast overgrowth.

How do you feel after eating coconut oil? It has caprylic acid, which inhibits yeasts.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
It is a path we all must walk and find out what we ourselves can and cannot eat. :-)

So true :) I also went for many, many years sick and undiagnosed. I constantly have a hard time knowing why certain things don't agree with me in one way or another.

Thank you for those links--I had seen the Clan Thompson one but not the others. I also have difficulties with citric acid, and also with citrus fruits. I always asumed it was the acid nature of these things, but who knows.....

The fact is that ever since I went gluten-free, I have either developed or discovered so many other intolerances. I'm constantly just trying to make sense of it all just like you. :)

Thanks again!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


GFtraingirl Newbie
GFtraingirl
Posted
  • Author
When I looked into citric acid, what I read indicated that most was made from corn.

However, two things stand out about your posts. One is that you're able to eat some pineapple without too much trouble. I wonder if this is because it contains Open Original Shared Link. Might this be an indicator that you need a digestive enzyme supplement? The other thing is that you are sensitive to yeast. What I've read seems to indicate that yeasts prefer an acidic environment. So perhaps the yeast multiply more rapidly when you eat citric acid. This makes me think you might have an intestinal yeast overgrowth.

How do you feel after eating coconut oil? It has caprylic acid, which inhibits yeasts.

RiceGuy,

Your reply is very interesting. I have recently learned about Bromalain, and have used it once in awhile to calm my stomach down, but I am not sure I use it properly. I will look more at the link you provided; I appreciate the help to learn more! I am so amazed about how much I am learning about all this. Makes life interesting. :-)

Perhaps it is the Bromelain in pineapple that makes me tolerate it, but no other fruit. I have not tried coconut oil, but know I can eat coconut without any problems.

GFtraingirl Newbie
GFtraingirl
Posted
  • Author
So true :) I also went for many, many years sick and undiagnosed. I constantly have a hard time knowing why certain things don't agree with me in one way or another.

Thank you for those links--I had seen the Clan Thompson one but not the others. I also have difficulties with citric acid, and also with citrus fruits. I always asumed it was the acid nature of these things, but who knows.....

The fact is that ever since I went gluten-free, I have either developed or discovered so many other intolerances. I'm constantly just trying to make sense of it all just like you. :)

Thanks again!

Jerseyangel,

Just like you, I have found more sensitivities since I went gluten free. I believe I had those sensitivities all along, but could not find them as long as I was eating gluten. It takes time, but it pays off when you feel yourself getting healthier.

pele Rookie
pele
Posted

Rice guy--

Pineapple is one of the few foods I crave all the time after two gluten-free years. I will check out bromelain. Thanks.

JA and GFTG, I went decades undiagnosed, too. Still dealing with the damage to the endocrine system.

  • 1 month later...
Rebecca's mom Rookie
Rebecca's mom
Posted

I am so glad I ran across this thread - I've been having reactions to canned pineapple, and I couldn't figure out what could have been causing it! I have a different "reaction" from most people - I start itching uncontrollably when I accidentally ingest gluten, and it doesn't take much at all. I also have been having problems with an ingredient called "Natamycin", which is now a common additive in shredded cheese.

Thanks so much for the info!

samcarter Contributor
samcarter
Posted

I can't tolerate oranges, orange juice, or lemonade--but I don't know if that's a citrus issue or citric acid. I take Citracal every day and have no issues so far with it.

Rebecca's mom Rookie
Rebecca's mom
Posted

I haven't noticed a problem with citrus fruits, but I haven't eaten any in a while - it will be interesting to see what happens. It appears that - in my case, at least - I personally am having a reaction to the Aspergillus mold that is used during the manufacturing of "food grade" citric acid. I have a similar reaction to vinegar, as well - apparently some people with mold allergies can have bad reactions to vinegar.

I knew that I was allergic to mold - it never occurred to me that mold could be an INTERNAL allergy......

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Blood tests for thiamine are unreliable. The nutrients from your food get absorbed into the bloodstream and travel around the body. So, a steak dinner can falsely raise thiamine blood levels in the following days. Besides, thiamine is utilized inside cells where stores of thiamine are impossible to measure. A better test to ask for is the Erythrocyte...
    2. lizzie42
      - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine?
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine. Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine. Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats. Meat, especially organ...
    4. lizzie42
      - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc. Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food....
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Russ H's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Anti-endomysial Antibody (EMA) Testing

      That is interesting, and it's the first time I heard about the umbilical cord beings used for that test. Thanks for sharing!
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,870
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    KABoston
    Newest Member
    KABoston
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Blood tests for thiamine are unreliable.  The nutrients from your food get absorbed into the bloodstream and travel around the body.  So, a steak dinner can falsely raise thiamine blood levels in the following days.  Besides, thiamine is utilized inside cells where stores of thiamine are impossible to measure. A better test to ask for is the Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test.  But even that test has been questioned as to accuracy.  It is expensive and takes time to do.   Because of the discrepancies with thiamine tests and urgency with correcting thiamine deficiency, the World Health Organization recommends giving thiamine for several weeks and looking for health improvement.  Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Many doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition and deficiency symptoms, and may not be familiar with how often they occur in Celiac disease.  B12 and Vitamin D can be stored for as long as a year in the liver, so not having deficiencies in these two vitamins is not a good indicator of the status of the other seven water soluble B vitamins.  It is possible to have deficiency symptoms BEFORE there's changes in the blood levels.   Ask your doctor about Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine that is better absorbed than Thiamine Mononitrate.  Thiamine Mononitrate is used in many vitamins because it is shelf-stable, a form of thiamine that won't break down sitting around on a store shelf.  This form is difficult for the body to turn into a usable form.  Only thirty percent is absorbed in the intestine, and less is actually used.   Thiamine interacts with all of the other B vitamins, so they should all be supplemented together.  Magnesium is needed to make life sustaining enzymes with thiamine, so a magnesium supplement should be added if magnesium levels are low.   Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  There's no harm in trying.
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine? 
    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine.  Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine.  Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and  Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats.  Meat, especially organ meats like liver, are the best sources of Thiamine, B12, and the six other B vitamins and important minerals like iron.   Thiamine has antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Thiamine is important to our immune systems.  We need more thiamine when we're physically ill or injured, when we're under stress emotionally, and when we exercise, especially outside in hot weather.  We need thiamine and other B vitamins like Niacin B 3 to keep our gastrointestinal tract healthy.  We can't store thiamine for very long.  We can get low in thiamine within three days.  Symptoms can appear suddenly when a high carbohydrate diet is consumed.  (Rice and beans are high in carbohydrates.)  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so symptoms can wax and wane depending on what one eats.  The earliest symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are easily contributed to other things or life events and dismissed.   Correcting nutritional deficiencies needs to be done quickly, especially in children, so their growth isn't stunted.  Nutritional deficiencies can affect intelligence.  Vitamin D deficiency can cause short stature and poor bone formation.   Is your son taking anything for the anemia?  Is the anemia caused by B12 or iron deficiency?  
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc.  Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food. The only processed food they eat regularly is a bowl of Cheerios here and there.  Could shaking legs be a symptom of just a one-time gluten exposure? I guess there's no way to know for sure if they're getting absolutely zero exposure because they do go to school a couple times a week. We do homeschool but my son does a shared school 2x a week and my daughter does a morning Pre-K 3 x a week.  At home our entire house is strictly gluten free and it is extremely rare for us to eat out. If we eat at someone else's house I usually just bring their food. When we have play dates we bring all the snacks, etc. I try to be really careful since they're still growing. They also, of course, catch kids viruses all the time so I  want to make sure I know whether they're just sick or they've had gluten. It can be pretty confusing when they're pretty young to even be explaining their symptoms! 
    • Scott Adams
      Anti-endomysial Antibody (EMA) Testing

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      That is interesting, and it's the first time I heard about the umbilical cord beings used for that test. Thanks for sharing!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.