August 1, 2016.
People who say they are “sensitive” to gluten now have an explanation for the many symptoms that can appear when they consume it. An American study has just proven the existence of a specific cell marker linked to this condition.
The FABP2 marker responsible for gluten sensitivity
A recent study may have found an explanation for gluten sensitivity. This condition, not to be confused with celiac disease (gluten intolerance), is characterized in people who claim to suffer from it by various symptoms, which range from gastrointestinal disturbances and headaches to mood disturbances. So far, only markers of gluten intolerance had been discovered and explained.
This latest study, published in the journal Gut, could provide an explanation for this sensitivity and pave the way for new treatments, since it highlights the role of a marker of damage in intestinal epithelial cells. This marker, called FABP2, was detected following a large study carried out on 40 intolerant people, 80 so-called “sensitive” people and 40 people without any digestive disorder.
2% intolerant and sensitive to gluten
In gluten intolerant people, cytotoxic T cells work only in the small intestine and symptoms only appear in that part of the body. In people with gluten sensitivity, the weakening of the intestinal barrier would facilitate the passage of microbial compounds from the intestine to the blood and thus explain the wide variety of symptoms.
The researchers who conducted this study claim thatat the end of six months without consumption of products containing gluten, the concentration of FABP2 in susceptible subjects had returned to a normal level and the participants regained a healthy digestive balance. Today, it is estimated that 1% are gluten intolerant and an additional 1% the number of people who suffer from gluten sensitivity.
Read also: Gluten intolerance: what you need to know
