Signs and Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance
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Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD
Gluten intolerance is a disorder that causes you to have a negative reaction after eating gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. It is also known as gluten sensitivity and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Gluten intolerance is different from celiac disease, an autoimmune disease. While the two disorders might cause similar symptoms, gluten intolerance does not damage the intestines like celiac disease does.
Gluten intolerance can cause a broad range of symptoms, including digestive issues, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes. These symptoms typically appear within hours or even a day or two after consuming gluten. The symptoms usually go away after gluten is removed from the diet and avoided altogether.
Since gluten intolerance can develop at any age, it's possible for symptoms to start at any time.
Digestive Symptoms
Gastrointestinal symptoms are common with gluten intolerance. Many people notice signs such as:
Stomach pain or discomfort, which can range in severity from mild to severe and be short-term or longer-lasting
Gas and bloating, which is a tight, full, or swollen feeling in the stomach, particularly after eating
Nausea or upset stomach, which makes you feel like you might vomit
Diarrhea, which is defined as loose or watery stools that can happen several times a day
Constipation, meaning you have fewer than three bowel movements a week or have bowel movements that are hard or difficult to pass
Vomiting, or throwing up after you eat or drink
These digestive symptoms usually show up fairly quickly after consuming gluten—within a couple of hours or a day. This is slightly different from celiac disease gastrointestinal symptoms, which tend to appear at least a day after eating gluten.
Editor's Note: Gluten intolerance is more common than celiac disease. While celiac disease is estimated to affect around 1% of people worldwide, it's estimated between 6% to 13% of people globally may experience gluten intolerance.
Non-Digestive Symptoms
If you have gluten intolerance, you can experience symptoms in systems other than your gastrointestinal tract. These non-digestive symptoms are known as extraintestinal symptoms. Some of the most common non-digestive symptoms of gluten intolerance include:
Fatigue, as well as unusually low energy levels, which may stem from not getting enough nutrients
Headaches, which can be a dull ache or a sharp, throbbing burst anywhere in the head and may even develop into migraine
Mood disorders, like anxiety or depression, potentially due to the way gluten interacts with the brain
Brain fog, or an inability to concentrate or focus, which likely stems from the way gluten appears to trigger neurological issues
Skin issues, such as itchy rashes similar to eczema or psoriasis, though the exact link between gluten intolerance and skin irritation is unclear
Joint pain, such as a dull ache or sharp, stabbing pain, possibly due to widespread inflammation in the body that's prompted by gluten consumption
Neuropathy, the sensation of numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, which may be tied to antibodies that the body sometimes produces when gluten is consumed
Anemia, an iron deficiency that can cause symptoms like dizziness, irregular heartbeat, a feeling of being cold, and shortness of breath since iron and other essential nutrients may not be absorbed by the body as they should with gluten intolerance
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you've been noticing any digestive changes shortly after consuming gluten, consider making an appointment with a healthcare provider. If you've developed any non-digestive symptoms shortly after eating gluten, check in with a healthcare provider, as well.
A healthcare provider will be able to determine whether your symptoms are those of gluten sensitivity or something else like celiac disease, wheat allergy, or irritable bowel syndrome. It can be helpful to keep a record of the foods you eat daily and note when the symptoms occur so that the healthcare provider can determine a cause.
There currently aren't any tests that can help diagnose gluten intolerance. Instead, a healthcare provider can make a diagnosis by asking questions about your symptoms, performing a physical exam, and testing you for celiac disease. While people with gluten intolerance may show similar symptoms to celiac disease, they will not test positive for celiac disease.
A Quick Review
People with gluten intolerance can experience a wide range of symptoms after consuming gluten. These symptoms include bloating, stomach pain, fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, and joint pain. Gluten intolerance shares similar symptoms with celiac disease, but unlike celiac disease, gluten intolerance doesn't lead to intestinal damage. Symptoms tend to show up fairly quickly after gluten consumption and resolve when gluten is eliminated from the diet.
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Read the original article on Health.
