by Tom Malterre | 3 comments
Is there a test for gluten issues?
Research suggests that 0.4%, 1%, and 6% of the general population have a wheat allergy, celiac disease, or gluten sensitivity respectively.
You can test IgE-related reactions to determine if you have a wheat allergy.
According to a recent article, you can now avoid getting a biopsy to diagnose Celiac disease. "A combination of four tests (IgA anti-dpgli, IgG anti-dpgli, IgA anti- tissue transglutaminase, and IgA anti-endomysium) yielded positive and negative predictive values of 99% and 100%..."- (see link "Intestinal Biopsy is not Always Required to Diagnose Celiac Disease")
Unfortunately, there are currently no laboratory tests available to determine if you have gluten-sensitivity. Gluten-sensitivity is best discovered by completing an Elimination Diet for a minimum of 28 days and then adding gluten-containing foods back in to see if you have a negative response.
References
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Comments
gluten sensitivity testing
Do you think the Cyrex Lab tests are also non-definitive?
I just listened to your interview with Sean Croxton. Wonderful! Thanks for your work.
by Jennifer Saines on Wed, 03/04/2015 - 7:38am
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for your
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for your comment.
I love the team at Cyrex! They are some really smart people. However, I think they would also agree that their lab testing is not definitive. There are too many factors involved with immune cell behavior for any lab to assume they can be 100% correct all the time.
Let me reiterate. I am not against lab testing. It can be extremely useful. I usually will request them from my clients medical team AFTER a well performed elimination diet is done.
I truly believe that people benefit from being able to identify what particular symptoms are associated with a particular given food. This changes the whole game of awareness surrounding their disease/disorder. It can be incredibly empowering. Labs don't always offer that connection. An elimination diet does.
I hope that helps!
My best wishes to you!
by Tom Malterre on Sun, 03/08/2015 - 1:22pm
Testing for Celiac
I found your blog 5 1/2 years ago when my daughter was having severe skin issues. We eliminated gluten and switched the family to an organic whole foods diet, with help from your cookbook, and her symptoms not only disappeared, but she started growing and being more alert. She was 4 years old at the time. She reacted to foods that had cross- contamination from being repackaged at Azure Standard so we started treating her as if she had Celiac since she seemed to be that sensitive.
She has been really healthy for years now and is starting to ask if she will have to be that careful her whole life. Are the tests you mentioned able to tell if she has Celiac even though she's been off gluten for 5 1/2 years? We know for sure she is sensitive to wheat, and I have been feeling much better having gone off all foods that have gluten as well. But since she reacted so strongly a few years ago to cross contamination, we have been ultra careful especially at parties to avoid it. Now that she is getting older and food plays more of a social role for her, she is wondering if she has to be so careful to avoid the spoon that gets put in the wrong place. I think having a diagnosis other than from "doctor mom" would help her to know for sure. And I would like to know if she has Celiac, a wheat allergy or just a gluten sensitivity.
Thank you!
by Christina G on Mon, 03/16/2015 - 9:34am
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