Sensitivity Levels Among Us

[SuperMolly]

When I was diagnosed with celiac disease 2 years ago I was told I was "lucky" because I can feel the effects of gluten when I ingest it. My dietician told me there are many celiacs who have no symptoms from gluten and that can be even more dangerous because it still damages the body.

What are your thoughts on this?

How come some with Celiac Disease react to trace amounts of gluten and others don't?

Do we all have the same amount of damage in our bodies because we all have the same disease, regardless of our varied reaction levels?

There is so much I still don't know.

[mushroom]

Latent or silent celiacs can be suffering just as much damage to their bodies as those who have raging GI symptoms. Not everybody expresses their intolerance through the digestive tract. Some have only neurological symptoms and have migraines and gluten ataxia and are diagnosed even with MS. Some just end up with Hashimoto's thyroiditis or diabetes. Some of us have milder digestive symptoms that are dismissed for a lifetime as IBS and we end up with such things as psoriatic arthritis (me) and it is too late for a gluten free diet to reverse it.

Those with GI symptoms are more likely to recognize a reaction to trace amounts of gluten, but GI reactions vary greatly in their intensity. Those whose symptoms are not expressed that way do not get that sharp warning. That is why you were told you were lucky. It is not possible to quantify the amount of damage to our bodies caused by gluten, because we are still learning the ways in which gluten damages our bodies. There is so much still to know.

[dilettantesteph]

I wonder the same thing. I am sensitive to the 20 ppm acceptable limit. Does that make me more or less likely to have hidden damage?

[DougE]

Hi SuperMolly,

Thanks for asking this question. I am one of those with Celiac who does not experience significant symptoms. I rely on others to tell me if certain products are safe. Otherwise, I have no way of knowing. For example, I am told that 90 percent of Celiacs can eat gluten-free oats, but I do not dare try them. How would I know if I am sensitive to them?

I do know that regardless of symptoms I still am damaging myself by eating gluten. This has raised another question in my mind... Are symptoms and damage even related? What about all of those who do experience symptoms when eating gluten? If they eat small enough amounts that they do not experience symptoms, does that necessarily mean that the amounts are low enough that they are not doing damage?