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

Corn Gluten


Razzle Dazzle Brazell

Recommended Posts

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

How on earth can any gluten be safe for us? I dont understand why corn is called gluten free even though it has gluten. I am concerned it could be damaging to my health. I know some of you have cut it out. Could you share your knowledge and experience with and without corn in your diet?


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Lisa Mentor

How on earth can any gluten be safe for us? I dont understand why corn is called gluten free even though it has gluten. I am concerned it could be damaging to my health. I know some of you have cut it out. Could you share your knowledge and experience with and without corn in your diet?

Corn is not a problem for those with Celiac Disease. Gluten is the protein in the corn, but it will not trigger an autoimmune reaction as would wheat, rye, barley or malt.

kareng Grand Master

There is gluten in a lot of grain. We sort of use the term wrong to mean only those in wheat, rye & barley. There are different "gluten" proteins in different grains.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/8/1/What-is-gluten-What-is-gliadin/Page1.html

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

Corn is not a problem for those with Celiac Disease. Gluten is the protein in the corn, but it will not trigger an autoimmune reaction as would wheat, rye, barley or malt.

I still dont understand the risk because i know celiacs often develop sensitivities or intolerances for proteins that are not even gluten just b/c the body confuses it (own words) and reacts to it similarly. Cant we be at risk of having bad reactions because it is the same type of protein? I actually hope not because I love using corn and corn starch when i cook. I just need reassurance.

Lisa Mentor

I still dont understand the risk because i know celiacs often develop sensitivities or intolerances for proteins that are not even gluten just b/c the body confuses it (own words) and reacts to it similarly. Cant we be at risk of having bad reactions because it is the same type of protein? I actually hope not because I love using corn and corn starch when i cook. I just need reassurance.

I think what you're talking about is a theory called cross-reaction. I'm not too sure I buy into that theory. Although, some people have issues with all grain, but I would think that they would be in the minority of people with Celiac.

I devour corn in the summer and I use corn starch as a thickener always.

The gluten free diet is difficult enough. I would not anticipate a problem until there is one. ;):)

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

There is gluten in a lot of grain. We sort of use the term wrong to mean only those in wheat, rye & barley. There are different "gluten" proteins in different grains.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/8/1/What-is-gluten-What-is-gliadin/Page1.html

Yeah i guess im just wary. Thanks for that link. It is very interesting.

psawyer Proficient

The word gluten is used in two distinct senses.

To a chemist, gluten is the prolamine protein of a grain--any grain. This is the sense used when speaking of "corn gluten."

To a dietitian, gluten refers to gliadin (wheat), hordein (barley) and secalin (rye), which are three chemically similar proteins that cause the celiac autoimmune reaction. Some, but not all, celiacs also react to avenin (oats). Oats are problematic because most commercial oats are contaminated by wheat.

Zein, the protein in corn, is not chemically similar to the proteins mentioned above. Some people, including some celiacs, have an intolerance to corn, but most of us eat it with no issues.

** Two posts were made while I was composing this.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



bartfull Rising Star

I have more problems with corn than I do with gluten. As a matter of fact, I found out the vitamins I've been taking for several months now actually contain gluten, and I have had no reaction to them at all. But if I have anything with corn or xanthan gum I get terrible reactions within hours.

I'm thinking that maybe (MAYBE) I sabotaged myself. When I first went gluten-free, I missed bread. I was able to eat Udi's and Canyon Bakehouse. Then a few weeks into it I bought gluten-free cornbread mix. I ate a LOT of it, and had a terrible reaction. After that I reacted to the Udis' etc.

I would reccommend that you don't eat too much of ANYTHING until you heal. Keep rotating your foods so you don't eat anything twice in a row.

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

The word gluten is used in two distinct senses.

To a chemist, gluten is the prolamine protein of a grain--any grain. This is the sense used when speaking of "corn gluten."

To a dietitian, gluten refers to gliadin (wheat), hordein (barley) and secalin (rye), which are three chemically similar proteins that cause the celiac autoimmune reaction. Some, but not all, celiacs also react to avenin (oats). Oats are problematic because most commercial oats are contaminated by wheat.

Zein, the protein in corn, is not chemically similar to the proteins mentioned above. Some people, including some celiacs, have an intolerance to corn, but most of us eat it with no issues.

** Two posts were made while I was composing this.

OoooooooOooooh! Thank you so much that explains everything lol. Thx P. :-)

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

I have more problems with corn than I do with gluten. As a matter of fact, I found out the vitamins I've been taking for several months now actually contain gluten, and I have had no reaction to them at all. But if I have anything with corn or xanthan gum I get terrible reactions within hours.

I'm thinking that maybe (MAYBE) I sabotaged myself. When I first went gluten-free, I missed bread. I was able to eat Udi's and Canyon Bakehouse. Then a few weeks into it I bought gluten-free cornbread mix. I ate a LOT of it, and had a terrible reaction. After that I reacted to the Udis' etc.

I would reccommend that you don't eat too much of ANYTHING until you heal. Keep rotating your foods so you don't eat anything twice in a row.

That is a good idea. I will do that.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,684
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Betty Siebert
    Newest Member
    Betty Siebert
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      I'd go with a vodka tonic, but that's just me😉
    • Rejoicephd
      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
×
×
  • 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.