in

We have been confusing celiachy and gluten intolerance for years. The difference is important but invisible to the naked eye

In recent years we have seen that celiacía or celiac disease and gluten intolerances They were visible. Although today society is more familiar with these terms, the fact that the element that unleashes both adverse reactions of our body is the same, gluten, implies possible confusion between one disorder and another.

Let’s start with the basics: What is gluten. Gluten is a protein that we can find in the grains of some plants, among which we can highlight wheat, rye or barley. Gluten can even be extracted and used as an additive to give some texture and flavor.

However, in the supermarket we will also find products that highlight in its packaging the absence of this protein. The reason is that many people feel adverse reactions to their consumption. These reactions have different origins but similar symptoms, which makes many people not familiar with the differences between these two disorders.

Celiacy It is an autoimmune disorder. When celiac people consume buttocks, their immune system is unleashed and damages intestinal villi. These are microscopic projections that are part internal lining of the intestine, fundamental when absorbing nutrients. The damage caused hinders precisely the absorption of nutrients after the autoimmune reaction is unleashed.

We do not know of the existence of a cure for this disease and it is little that we know of its origin. We do know that there is a hereditary component: people with celiac relatives are more likely to suffer from this disorder. Among its symptoms, abdominal pain, gases, constipation, apparently inexplicable weight loss, among others, can be found.

Gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity or Non -celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is also unleashed as a reaction to gluten consumption and presents some similar symptoms to celiac disease. However, in these cases, experts are not clear about the intervention of the immune system because antibodies are not detected in our body’s response to protein consumption.

This adverse reaction can also make symptoms arise in our digestive system, including gases, diarrhea or constipation; as well as symptoms of other types such as headache, joint pain or rashes. Little by little we study this type of problem, but there is still little we know about this intolerance.

Similarities and differences

The fundamental difference between gluten and celiacan intolerance is what makes the latter a more serious disorder, and it is the damage that appears in the intestine and that can affect how our body absorbs our body nutrients. This damage does not occur in intolerant people. He Autoimmune origin It can also be seen as an important difference.

Both disorders share some symptoms but it is also important to cut the gluten of diets also leads to a rapid improvement of these symptoms.

So how is each condition diagnosed? When we feel that gluten feels bad for us We can submit to some tests that tell us if we have celiacy. A Antibody test You can tell us if our body is generating an autoimmune reaction by processing gluten.

We can also make a genetic test that tells us if our genes are related to a propensity to suffering from the disease. Finally, a biopsy can indicate if we present intestinal lesions of celiacism. If the tests do not indicate the probability that we suffer from this disease but our symptoms refer by ceasing to consume gluten, it is likely that the diagnosis is NGCS.

“Celiac disease is a disorder of the immune system that damages your small intestine even when you eat a small amount of gluten. Celiachy also runs in the blood,” Explain Alberto Rubio Tapiaof the Cleveland Clinic. “(Non -celiac gluten sensitivity) is a digestive disorder, not an immune system problem. NGCS does not damage your intestine and does not tend to repeat itself in families.”

As if this were not enough, there is another disorder that can sometimes lead us to confusion. Celiacía and intolerance should not be confused with food allergiesespecially with the Wheat allergy. Being wheat, an important gluten source, falling into this error can be easy.

A not very severe food allergy can cause similar symptoms that could be confused with those of celiac disease or with gluten intolerance. Other symptoms of allergies, such as itching in the eyes or respiratory problems can help us distinguish this third problem.

Distinguishing between the three conditions is more important than it seems. The most severe food allergies can put our lives at risk, but celiachy is also related to serious health problems that can occur in the long term. Celiac people tend for example to present a Greater risk of suffering from intestinal cancer, lactose intolerance or type I diabetes.

In Xataka | What is xantana rubber, the thickening additive that replaces gluten: how it is used and nutritional value

Image | Wesual click

What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

The great debate about whether iOS is safer than Android, myths and realities of ‘Breaking Bad’ and much more in 1×09 crossover

The Google Pixel 9A comes with a gift, a Xiaomi mobile with 512 GB very cheap and more. Hunting bargains