Celiac Disease (Gluten Enteropathy) is an immune system disease that develops due to the deterioration of the structure of the tissues that provide absorption on the surface of the small intestine, leading to malabsorption.
Gluten Intolerance (Gluten Sensitivity) is a condition in which intestinal symptoms and extraintestinal symptoms are observed with gluten intake, without any deterioration in the structure of antibodies, HLA, and tissues on the intestinal surface. Extraintestinal symptoms may include brain fog, muscle and joint pain, muscle numbness, anemia, and dermatitis.
What Are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance?
Gluten Intolerance and Celiac have similar symptoms. Gastrointestinal (intestinal system) symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, etc. are symptoms. Headache, myalgia, confusion, fatigue, etc. neurological/psychiatric symptoms are observed.
What is the Difference Between Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance (Sensitivity)?
Gluten Sensitivity is a condition that develops against gluten and may resolve some time after the symptoms are resolved. However, Celiac is a lifelong immune system disease characterized by malabsorption.
At the same time, the diagnosis of Gluten Intolerance is made with food sensitivity tests. However, in order for an individual to be diagnosed with celiac, many blood tests and biopsies are required.
Gluten Intolerance symptoms vary depending on the amount of gluten ingested. But the occurrence of Celiac symptoms is not related to the amount taken. Symptoms of gluten intolerance can improve with the removal of gluten from the diet for a certain period of time or the use of foods with reduced gluten content. However, in Celiac, lifelong nutritional therapy is applied.
How Does the Nutrition Therapy Process Continue?
Nutritional Process in Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance
In Celiac Disease, the amount of gluten intake is not important. Ingestion of very small amounts of gluten into the digestive tract causes symptoms. The treatment of celiac disease is a lifelong gluten-free diet, but gluten intolerance is treated by reducing the amount of gluten taken daily, or by removing gluten from the diet for a while, unlike celiac disease. When gluten is completely removed and added again after a while, symptoms improve.
