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X-Gluten.com - a collection of the best and most comprehensive information about gluten intolerance diagnosis and the latest resources for testing, diagnosis, research, medical information, gluten-free diets, and more.

GLUTEN SENSITIVITY

Celiac Disease (CD) and Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance (GI) cause a continuum of symptoms that range from very mild, almost non-existent, to quite severe damage to the body and mind, and can affect most any part of the body and may do so on multiple levels over a long period of time. Gluten Sensitivity is a common genetic condition that may affect children or adults at any age.

There are two types of Gluten Sensitivity:

1. CELIAC DISEASE (CD)
    There are four classes of Celiac Disease.

2. NON-CELIAC GLUTEN INTOLERANCE (GI)


1. CELIAC DISEASE (CD)

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune response to gliadin, a toxic protein in gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley (and contaminated oats and a few lesser known grains – spelt, kamut and triticale) that creates MALABSORPTION in the small intestine.  Once the villi, tiny finger-like projections in the small intestine, are damaged by the presence of gluten they become flattened, diseased, and no longer function in absorbing all of the vitamins and minerals that are vital in keeping ALL parts of our bodies operating optimally.

4 CLASSES OF
CELIAC DISEASE:

 
Celiac Disease, in the traditional sense, may be thought of as “The End of the Road” of Gluten Sensitivity; minor to major damage to the villi has progressively occurred over a long period of time causing significant symptoms and maladies perhaps on multiple systems in the body or perhaps NO SYMPTOMS at all! 

The "gold standard" for diagnosing CD is a positive endoscopic biopsy to see if the villi in the small intestine are damaged (villous atrophy). If there is villous atrophy one is diagnosed with Celiac Disease, even without symptoms. The absence of symptoms speaks to the increasing health risks and damage that is ongoing due to this silent Celiac Disease.

Celiac Disease has a genetic component. If one is diagnosed with CD, doctors in the know will recommend that parents, siblings, and children of that person be screened. 

 CD is an AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

CD is caused by an INTOLERANCE to GLUTEN

CD is NOT an ALLERGY


2. NON-CELIAC GLUTEN INTOLERANCE (GI)

There is a large population of ailing folks with Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance (GI) that are adversely affected by gluten; these people test negative on the tTG and/or the EMA blood tests (often only the tTG is given) and negative on the endoscopy, which is the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing CD. So, if they do not have intestinal damage (flattened villi) they may be informed that they do not have Celiac Disease. They may then be handed a prescription for the rest of their life or may be told to see a shrink for their “belly aching” complaints.  Does this have a familiar ring to it?

The traditional "gold standard" of needing an endoscopic biopsy (checking for villous atrophy-gut damage) to be diagnosed as having CD is becoming outdated as better, more sensitive tests are recognized and as the view of CD is broadened to encompass more than just gut damage.

Those with Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance are basically not being addressed by traditional medicine. They often are not being offered the antigliadin antibody (AGA) blood tests (see: Traditional Testing and Progressive Testing).  Huge numbers of ailing people are being missed because of inadequate testing protocols.

 

 
©2009 Anne Sarkisian
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