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INTRODUCTION
Humanity has existed for about 2.5 million years, but cereals as
the main component of human nutrition were introduced only about
10000 years ago. By introducing cereals people went from hunting to
agriculture, which caused a sharp increase in grain harvest and
consumption. Today, global production of wheat exceeds 700 million
tons per year [1]. The protein found in wheat is called gluten,
however this is a common name for similar proteins found in barley,
rye and oats. Gluten in humans can cause several different
disorders, among which is allergy to gluten [2]. This "natural" need
to improve production has led to artificial breeding and selection
of wheat that was better adapted to extreme climatic conditions and
was resistant to the diseases. Such manipulation in wheat has led to
drastic changes in genetic diversity and quality of wheat.
Gluten is extremely important in making bread and other products.
Gluten (eng. glue - glue) is the component that holds the bread,
i.e. it ensures that the dough rises and forms bubbles in
fermentation process. Bakery products have a characteristic texture
thanks to gluten. Today, the awareness of the importance of gluten
in food production has led to the extraction of gluten from plant
seeds and its use not only in most bakery products, but also in the
production of sweets, crackers, snacks, candies and the like.
It is believed that this genetic modification of wheat and gluten
was too much of a shock for our organism and it did not give time
for our immunological system to develop natural adjustment
mechanisms [2].
This very protein and sensitivity to it has become a major topic of
interest and research of the wider public and the interest of the
people has led to a huge literature and information that is not
necessary reliable [3]. "Allergy to gluten" is acondition which
affects millions of people in the world and includes a reaction to
the gluten protein in cereals, and not only in wheat products, but
also in many others, the proper name for this condition is gluten
sensitivity or glutensensitivity without celiac disease.
Demand for and consumption of gluten-free food has significantly
increased in the last 30 years . In In 2016 almost twice as much
money was spent on gluten-free food compared to 2011. Social
networks, the media and marketing encouraged a large number of
people to interested in gluten-free diet, and the problem is that
most people have adopted this way of eating because of beliefs that
consumption of food with gluten leads to harmful consequences [4]
Today, an increasing number of people opts for a gluten-free diet
without a prior recommendation from a doctor, which later makes it
more difficult to reach the correct diagnosis.
The aim of this paper
Most people who choose a gluten-free diet do so based on information
from the media and popular literature, without prior consultation
with a doctor. This not only makes it difficult to see the real
state of health of a person, but it can also have a negative impact
on the individual's health. Gluten is important to doctors because
it is associated with many diseases and is often confused with other
allergies. The aim of this paper is to explain what "gluten allergy"
is, i.e. its real name, whether it really exists and how to
distinguish it from a grain allergy, as well as what consequences of
groundless restricted gluten-free diet are .
Allergy or sensitivity?
Gluten allergy does not actually exist [2]. This term is incorrect
because there is no such thing as allergy to gluten. People who have
celiac disease describe their condition as an allergy, because this
is the term easier to understand or even they themselves do not know
the difference between an autoimmune disease and a sensitivity or
allergies. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that results in
damage to the small intestine that is triggered by consuming food
containing gluten [5]. Gluten sensitivity is a condition that exists
and is more correct to say that someone is sensitive to gluten, not
that they have an allergy. Gluten sensitivity without celiac disease
is characterized by intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms related
to the intake of food containing gluten, while the person does not
have celiac disease or wheat allergy [6]. Unlike celiac disease,
patients who are sensitive to gluten do not have celiac disease,
that is, the associated antibodies and may be HLA-DK2/8 negative
(human leukocyte antigen) nor histological abnormalities of the
small intestine. Studies have shown that these people have normal
intestinal permeability and do not react to gluten through the
activation of immune response [4].
So there is gluten sensitivity, but not gluten allergy. On the other
hand, one should know the difference between sensitivity to gluten
and allergies to wheat. These two terms do not imply the same
problems. Cereal allergies are common and the most common is allergy
to wheat which can result in atopic dermatitis, anaphylaxis caused
exercise, eosinophilic esophagitis or celiac disease [3]. People who
are sensitive to gluten should avoid all types of grains that
contain gluten, while people with a grain (wheat) allergy should
avoid only wheat while they can eat other cereals [7].
Symptoms of sensitivity to gluten
Humans have enzymes that help break down the food they eat. The
protein-processing enzyme cannot fully break down gluten and it
reaches the small intestine as such. Most people won't have any
symptoms after undigested gluten enters the small intestine, but in
some it may cause a serious autoimmune response or other unpleasant
symptoms. Those symptoms can be intestinal or extraintestinal [8].
Symptoms of sensitivity to gluten are connected with consumption of
food which contains gluten and usually they disappear completely
when a person does not consume it. Symptoms then disappear after a
couple of hours or days. Manifestation of gluten sensitivity is very
similar to irritable bowel syndrome (nervous intestines syndrome)
and includes the following:
- pain in the stomach,
- flatulence,
- abnormality in the work of bowels (diarrhea or
constipation),
- systemic manifestations (cognitive dysfunction, a headache,
fatigue, pain in the joints or muscles, numbness in the legs or
arms, dermatitis (eczema or rash),
- depression,
- anemia [9].
If symptoms appear in childhood, typical gastrointestinal
symptoms appear (pain in the stomach and/or chronic diarrhea), while
fatigue is the most common among systematic ones [9]. Diagnosis of
sensitivity to gluten should be considered in all patients who have
persistent intestinal or systematic complaints, and at the same time
have a regular serological finding. Unfortunately, there still
doesn't exist a single precise biomarker which can with certainty
point to the existence of sensitivity to gluten. Today this
diagnosis is made based on the appearance of symptoms and intake of
gluten, compared to placebo-controlled "food challenge" symptoms
[6]. When the person goes to the doctor and gluten sensitivity is
suspected, the diagnosing process begins. This is done by starting a
gluten-free diet (getting rid of all foods, drinks, medicines,
cosmetics, etc. that contain gluten). When all of the symptoms
withdraw we continue with the introduction of one item after the
other and wait for the symptoms to appear. When the symptoms appear
after the introduction of a new item, we know which food or product
the patient reacts Badbadly to [3].
There are a couple of disorders that gluten can cause when it is
consumed and the individual does not react well to it. Some of those
disorders are:
- OGBC - gluten sensitivity without celiac disease, which was
discussed in this article. This term is used to describe a
condition where an individual does not have celiac disease or a
gluten allergy, but has intestinal troubles after consumption of
food which contains gluten;
- Celiac disease - the main cause of celiac disease is
sensitivity to gluten, and this is a condition in which the
immune system attacks its own tissues when gluten is consumed.
These changes mostly they disappear after the start of a
gluten-free diet;
- Gluten ataxia - there is still no clear evidence of how this
ataxia occurs, but we suppose that the antibodies that are
formed affect the cerebellum. A gluten-free diet can improve
neurological deficits, but it is not always useful, because
sometimes damage to the cerebellum can be irreversible;
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis - this disorder represents unusual
skin changes which are directly related to gluten and celiac
disease, and arise as an autoimmune response to gluten intake.
It is characterized by persistent itching, inflammatory papules
on the skin and vesicles on the forearms, knees, head and
buttocks [10].
Potential side-effects of gluten-free diet
Most people who are on a gluten-free diet, as previously stated, do
not have any diseases or intolerance to gluten, but still opt for
this way of nourishment. The main reason for this is a belief that a
gluten-free diet is healthier than a typical high-calorie or
grain-rich diet. People who have this way of eating often try to
alleviate some symptoms that have not been confirmed by a diagnosis
or want a general improvement in their health condition, without any
previous symptoms. Many people believe that a gluten-free diet is
associated with weight loss. There is even one study that confirmed
this theory (a loss of girth in the waist was observed, as well as
body weight loss and higher levels of lipoprotein), but the test
group was unreliable, so this still remains only a theory [4].
Even athletes advocated gluten-free diet, claiming that improves
performance and endurance [4]. Athletes have to plan their own
nutrition in detail in order to have optimal performance and of
course, for the purpose of reducing gastrointestinal symptoms. It is
also believed that gluten-free diet reduces inflammation, however,
no theory has yet confirmed this. If an athlete has better
performance that can be because he may haveundiagnosed celiac
disease or simply is losing weightand therebyfeels better and moves
more easily [11].
A 2015 study of 910 non-celiac athletes found that 41% practiced
gluten-free diet more than 50% of the time, and only 13% of them did
so because of a previously diagnosed medical condition. 57% reported
gluten sensitivity which they noticed themselves (stomach ailments
and fatigue). 28.7% respondents found their main source of
information online, 26.2% received information from coachesor
physiotherapists, while 17.4% received information from other
athletes[4].
The negative side of the gluten-free diet is very important. Foods
containing gluten (cereals) are at the bottom of food pyramid and
are so important for our health. These foods are good option for
satisfying daily caloric needs. The consequences of a gluten-free
diet are:
A lack of nutrients - cereals from the whole grain are rich in
fibers, vitamins and minerals. The majority of gluten-free pasta and
bread are not enriched with these micronutrients, which makes their
natural intake difficult.
Adding weight - although it wasobserved that weight can be lost
snacks and refined breads can have more fats, sugar and calories,
which leads to weight increase .
Price - gluten-free diet is expensive especially for our market. In
addition to increased financial sociopsychological influences were
observed. This diet requires persistent commitment to limited diet
and way of life. A person can feel isolated or have negative
comments from the environment [4].
OGBC like special clinical entity
Today in the medical world there is much debate about whether gluten
sensitivity without celiac disease really exists. Gluten is perhaps
one of the most controversial and misunderstood food compounds. And
if certain persons are considered to have sensitivity to gluten,
many doctors and experts do not accept sensitivity to gluten without
celiac disease like special clinical entity. Why is that so?
One of the best examples is precisely the proof that gluten
sensitivity without celiac disease actually does not exist. Although
the existence of gluten sensitivity (without celiac disease) was
proven in one study, later the same people conducted a study and
published an article in which they claimed and proved the opposite.
The first paper (which showed the existence of this) was published
in 2011 and then a study was conducted where it was shown that a
diet with gluten can cause gastrointestinal problems even in people
who do not suffer from celiac disease [12]. However, another paper
(showing the absence of OGBC) published in 2013 after conducting a
study on a small group of respondents, showed that there are no
certain, specific responses to gluten. After analyzing the data, it
was reported that each diet that was given to respondents, whether
it contained gluten or not, encouraged the respondents to report
deterioration of symptoms. Even when subjects were given a placebo,
respondents again reported deterioration of symptoms. Although the
group of respondents was small (37 people), the data clearly
indicated that gluten was not to blame for the symptoms, but the
reasons were psychological [12]. Precisely because of studies like
this, most doctors do not accept the diagnosis of OGBC or
sensitivity to gluten without some others, accompanying disorders.
At the same time, the etiology of gluten sensitivity is not clearly
understood, and although it is believed that there exists an
immunological response to gluten, no study has proved it yet. The
other potential culprits include amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATI)
and fructans (found in FODMAPs) [14]. FODMAPs (fermentable
oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) are
part of wheat and may play a role in NCGS pathophysiology and
development of the symptoms. Placebo controlled study revealed that
the symptoms improved with reduced intake of these components, so
the conclusion is that the improvement of the symptoms was not due
to non-consumption of gluten, but because of FODMAPs. Besides, this
study showed that two gluten-free weeks caused a reduction in
symptoms compared to that reported during a low-fat diet FODMAPs
[15].
There is still much uncertainty about OGBC, and the causes may be
gastrointestinal symptoms of gastrointestinal infection,
medications, previous surgical procedures, etc. It requires a lot of
time to fully understand the mechanism and the real cause of origin
of sensitivity to gluten.
Conclusion
Although many people notice gastrointestinal complaints after
consuming grains and food with gluten, non-celiac gluten sensitivity
is still not recognized as a distinct clinical entity. The reason
for this is that there is no clear evidence to show that a person
has a sensitivity to gluten, without having some other hidden
condition or that the symptoms are not exclusively of psychological
nature.
Cereals are the main source of carbohydrates and their absorption
takes place in small intestine, providing energy to us. One should
always choose whole grain cereals with as little sugar and
preservatives as possible. If there is no clear indication for that,
one should not decide on a gluten-free diet. If there is any doubt
that gluten sensitivity still exists, adoctor should be consulted.
In case there is a clear diagnosis for this a person should start
with this diet.
These people should avoid flour, bread, crackers, baking mixes,
pasta, cereals, sauces, spices, processed meat, beer, etc. Rice,
corn, potatoes, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, wine and
distilled spirits are gluten-free and acceptable to eat or drink,
but only when these products are of completely natural origin,
because gluten is sometimes used as an additive. Many other products
may not have gluten in them, but gluten may have been used in their
preparation or packaging. Patients should consult a doctor or a
nutritionist.
Debates and conversations about non-celiac gluten sensitivity happen
every day, but we have a long way ahead of us in order to understand
this condition properly.
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