Celiac disease is a  disorder of the digestive system that is generated by intolerance to gluten , producing “a chronic and diffuse inflammation of the mucosa of the small intestine”. Is an autoimmune disease, in which there is a reaction of the immune system against gluten, a protein present in cereals such as wheat, barley and rye. It is neither an allergy nor an intolerance.

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a symptomatic intolerance: the ingestion of gluten causes symptoms (usually digestive). But there is no reaction of the immune system, nor have long-term consequences been described. In addition, the latest research casts doubt on whether what actually produces the symptoms in this pathology is gluten, or it may be other components of wheat, fruit-oligosaccharides, or simply a poor diet.

Celiac disease can manifest with digestive symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhoea, flatulence, constipation, fat in stool, weight stagnation in children, etc.), also with extra-digestive symptoms (anemia, osteoporosis, dental enamel defects, neurological disorders , apathy, tiredness, recurrent miscarriages, fertility problems, liver disorders and dermatitis herpetiformis).

In the case of SGCN, it always manifests itself with symptoms, digestive or non-digestive. The most common: abdominal pain, skin rashes, fatigue, migraines, flatus, depression, anemia that doesn’t improve with supplementation, constipation, etc.

The only treatment available for celiac diseade is to follow a strict gluten-free diet , since if it isn’t, it can cause malnutrition, anemia and weight loss as the small intestine does not absorb enough nutrients.

While in the case of the SGCN, the recommendations indicate that although at the beginning of treatment, the diet has to be strictly gluten-free, tolerance levels can be tested, that is, introduce small amounts of gluten to see how far amount is tolerated without symptoms. In many cases, patients can consume small amounts of gluten without symptoms. The ingestion of gluten doesn’t have serious consequences in the short and long term, beyond the symptoms that may appear.

Come to Clinica Britannia to visit our Specialist.