Non-celiac gluten sensitivity can affect almost every system in your body. According to researchers, symptoms can include:
● Brain fog
● Digestive effects
● Joint pain
● Numbness in your extremities
However, these are similar to celiac disease symptoms, making distinguishing one condition from the other difficult. In this article, we will examine shocking indications of gluten sensitivity.
Digestive Symptoms
According to doctors, digestive gluten sensitivity symptoms are very common. Dr. Alessio Fasano, head of Massachusetts General Center for Celiac Research, said gluten-sensitive people regularly have “IBS-like” symptoms. This includes stomach and diarrhea.
Dr. Kenneth Fine, Founder of Enterolab and its gluten sensitivity testing program, said most people he’s diagnosed with gluten sensitivity have “some GI symptoms including anything from heartburn to constipation.”
Neurological Issues
Like celiac disease, gluten sensitivity can result in brain fog, fatigue, and other cognitive problems. Dr. Fasano said he sees headaches and brain fog in approximately one-third of the individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
People diagnosed with gluten sensitivity also record feelings of gluten-induced depression and anxiety. One study has noted that the most regular nondigestive symptoms of NCGS are headache, anxiety, and tiredness.
Dr. Rodney Ford, a New Zealand-based pediatrician, was the first to hypothesize that gluten sensitivity is majorly a neurological condition. He said it’s obvious with gluten that one of its main target organs is neural tissue.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms of gluten sensitivity affect the endocrine system, skin, and joints.
Endocrine Symptoms
Like celiac disease, gluten sensitivity can cause symptoms that involve your endocrine (hormone) system. These include thyroid disease and infertility. It could also lead to gluten-caused asthma in certain individuals.
Skin Symptoms
Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is the skin condition most connected with celiac disease. However, individuals with gluten sensitivity commonly exhibit rashes and other skin conditions that clear up when they go gluten-free.
Joint Pain
According to Dr. Fine, Dr. Ford, and Dr. Fasano, many individuals experience joint pain, anemia, and tingling in their extremities from gluten ingestion.
New Area of Research
The recognition of gluten sensitivity as a potentially separate condition from celiac disease is still new. As such, no major research connects any of the symptoms mentioned above conclusively to gluten sensitivity.
Conclusion
None of this information about non-celiac gluten sensitivity symptoms has been proven. It just represents the opinions of researchers who are researching the topic. However, continued research will hopefully shed more light on these symptoms and who might be susceptible to them.
