Celiac and Gluten Intolerance. What the heck is the difference?
Celiac disease and gluten intolerance or non-celiac gluten sensitivity are two completely different health conditions but are often grouped together and used interchangeably.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where your body essentially attacks itself.
When people with celiac eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley), their body sends off an immune response (via antibodies) that attacks their small intestine. These attacks damage the villi which are small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine and absorb nutrients from the food we eat. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body and can quickly lead to many deficiencies often times causing anemia. Celiac is a very serious disease and if undiagnosed it can lead to other autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), and many other conditions, anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, miscarriage and intestinal cancers.
Who has Celiac Disease?
· At least 1% of the population (1 in 133 Americans) has celiac disease.
· Upwards of 83% of people with celiac are undiagnosed
· The genes known to be associated with celiac are HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 and often times diagnosed in those with northern European decent.
· Women are diagnosed with celiac disease two to three times more often than men. Current research indicates that 60% to 70% of those diagnosed with celiac disease are women.
· When a first degree family member has celiac, the probability of developing it increases significantly.
· Celiac disease can develop at any age
There are more than 250 known symptoms of celiac disease and symptoms vary among different people and some people with celiac don’t have any symptoms at all.
Common signs and symptoms of celiac disease:
· Anemia
· Anxiety
· depression
· Bloating/gas
· Brain fog
· Constipation/diarrhea
· Fatigue
· Growth delay (in children)
· Infertility
· Skin rash (Dermatitis Herpetiformis)
· Joint pain
· Cancer sores
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance, more accurately described as non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a condition that occurs in individuals who are unable to tolerate gluten.
They experience symptoms similar to those associated with celiac disease but do not have the intestinal damage or elevated antibodies as individuals diagnosed with celiac.
Common signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance
· Bloating/gas or abdominal pain
· Join pain
· Brain fog
· Depression
· Anemia
· Fatigue
· Constipation/diarrhea
· Skin problems
As you can see the symptoms can be similar but it is crucial to distinguish between celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. If you suspect that you or someone you know may have celiac or non-celiac gluten sensitivity it’s important to find a knowledgeable physician that specializes in these conditions to get an appropriate diagnosis. Due to the disease’s complexity and its many symptoms it can take years to get a proper diagnosis.
Personally, it took me at least a year to get diagnosed with celiac and that was only because I had an amazing physician who had the knowledge and experience to get me tested for antibodies and when they came back elevated she sent me off to get an endoscopy to biopsy my small intestine which confirmed my damaged villi and celiac diagnosis. I experienced zero digestive issues and the symptom that was most prevalent was extremely itchy blisters on my elbows, knees and face known as dermatitis herpetiformis. The prevalence of both celiac and non-celiac gluten sensitivity is only increasing in numbers and understanding both the seriousness of these conditions and how to thrive after a diagnosis is paramount.
If you have been diagnosed with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity and you’re required to transition to a lifelong gluten-free diet a health coach or a nutritionist can be immensely helpful in guiding you through this change.