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Can You Make Yourself Sensitive To Gluten By Avoiding It?

Chakra2

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Chakra2 Contributor
Chakra2
Posted

My husband and I were gently debating this topic the other day. Both my 2 yr old and I went gluten-free before celiac testing (and got life-changing results) so now my husband wonders if the kiddo and I react so strongly to gluten just because we've been avoiding it. I understand that people with true gluten intolerance can get more sensitve to it the longer they stay away so I'm really trying to ask about a different phenomenon: what happens if you don't start off with any gluten problem, but then you avoid gluten for a long time and try to eat it again? Could "normal" people become gluten-sensitive just by avoiding it?

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nora-n Rookie
nora-n
Posted

Yes what happens is that you got something called freshly activated T cells.

Several places are even doing trials on it, to develop a new kind of means to test for celiac. Only celiacs get this reaction. (freshly activated T cells)

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

My husband and I were gently debating this topic the other day. Both my 2 yr old and I went gluten-free before celiac testing (and got life-changing results) so now my husband wonders if the kiddo and I react so strongly to gluten just because we've been avoiding it. I understand that people with true gluten intolerance can get more sensitve to it the longer they stay away so I'm really trying to ask about a different phenomenon: what happens if you don't start off with any gluten problem, but then you avoid gluten for a long time and try to eat it again? Could "normal" people become gluten-sensitive just by avoiding it?

No, I really don't think so. I avoid brussel sprouts for long stretches at a time and have never managed to develop a sensitivity to them. :P But seriously, my brother and SIL did a full elimination diet and didn't eat gluten for about a month, since it was one of the last things added back in, and neither of them had any reaction whatsoever.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

No, I really don't think so. I avoid brussel sprouts for long stretches at a time and have never managed to develop a sensitivity to them. :P But seriously, my brother and SIL did a full elimination diet and didn't eat gluten for about a month, since it was one of the last things added back in, and neither of them had any reaction whatsoever.

I agree completely. If folks reacted to stuff just because they don't eat it elimination diets and challenges would be worthless as folks would react to everything they added back in.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

Many people here have gluten free households, meaning their entire family eats gluten free at home whether they need to or not, but outside of the house they can eat whatever. If going back to eating gluten was a problem with everyone, then there would not be people that can eat gluten free at home and indulge in gluten while at parties, restaurants, etc. without any symptoms. Or another way to look at it would be to look at populations of the world where their main staple is rice (or other grains) instead of wheat. They may not eat products with wheat very often but they don't react to it when they do eat it.

I think what you are really trying to ask is, is this a placebo effect or do you really need to avoid gluten? Or another similar question might be, is this all in your head? The answers are no and no. I think everyone goes through a denial phase at first. Or everyone has a point where they have to convince a family member this is real. I hope your husband reads up a bit on celiac disease/gluten intolerance and comes to the conclusion that this is a real illness. This is not something that you "caused" to happen to yourself by avoiding gluten. And it's not something that you chose. Be sure to explain that, you are not just choosing to do this, but that you MUST do it for your health. I'm sure if we all had the choice to go back to eating gluten and not feel sick after a while of trying it again, we would do it. But sadly it doesn't work that way.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I don't think so either. When you think about it, we all have things that we only eat once in a while--like at holidays and such.

Also, I've been retested twice by blood and had a repeat endoscopy in the 5 years I've been gluten-free, and while I react to trace amounts of gluten with unpleasast reactions, I have always tested in normal ranges with the retesting.

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      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

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      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

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      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

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      Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covered up). It’s not usually on the outside of my elbows and knees which seems more typical of dermatitis herpetiformis (unless it spreads there). It tends to first hit the inside of those areas. Interestingly, twice the rash broke out soon after eating an unhealthy meal and having an alcoholic drink (I only drink a few times a year, no more alcohol content than a glass of wine).  So I wonder if there is a connection. I’m halfway considering doing a gluten challenge for a few months to see what happens, knowing I can stop if I have any symptoms, and asking for a full celiac disease panel at the end. I really appreciate your thoughts! 
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