the gluten free diet is it a fad or a real health problem? On the one hand, the gluten intolerant suffer from celiac disease, an autoimmune condition in which ingestion of gluten causes an abnormal immune response in the small intestine. On the other hand, people said to be sensitive to gluten are often placed in the box of imaginary patients. Wrongly, according to researchers from Columbia University (United States), who announce in the scientific journal Gut have identified biological markers specific to the gluten sensitivity.
Markers of cell damage in the gut
To do this, they conducted tests on 40 people who were gluten intolerant, 80 people sensitive to gluten and 40 people who did not suffer from digestive disorders. They compared their immune reactions and their physical problems after ingesting gluten. While in gluten intolerant people, the immune response is concentrated in the intestine and causes abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea, it is much more widespread in people sensitive to gluten. Indeed, markers indicative of cellular damage have been found in the gut of gluten-sensitive individuals and the intestinal barrier of these participants appears to be more permeable than normal. Microbial compounds from the gut can then pass from the gut into the bloodstream and generate an immune response throughout the body. This would explain that in addition to gastrointestinal disorders, people sensitive to gluten suffer from fatigue, difficulty concentrating and mood disorders.
Better diagnose people sensitive to gluten
Good news: according to these researchers, six months of gluten-free diet was enough to lower the concentration of markers of cell damage and decrease the inflammatory response of the body of people sensitive to gluten. The discovery of this marker should make it possible to better diagnose this disorder and to take charge of it quickly. Gluten is a set of proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. For a gluten-free diet, it is therefore necessary to ban foods that contain these cereals (bread, pasta, cakes, processed foods, etc.) and replace them with suitable foods.
>> Discover our tasty gluten-free recipe ideas
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