Gluten allergies?

[WeedWhacker]

I was unaware (except for being able to read package labels that announce a product as "Gluten Free") that this is a profound issue, for some people.

Personally, I have no allergies. Yet, it seems, SOME people do. This is probably related to genetics, evolution, and the way that ALL species evolve...too soon to tell, I'd say.

Anyway....saw this video, wanted to 'toss it out' for discussion, if anyone is interested. I KNOW that I learned something, and am now more considerate of anyone who might be afflicted:

 

[jaydeehess]

Yes, it is a real affliction with science to back it. However, the number of people who self diagnose and go gluten free is probably far removed from the number of people actually afflicted.

The interview you posted touches on the faddish side of this as well though. My personal issue is renal problems and I would like to see a fad for low sodium foods come about. Would make my life easier.

 

[Bill]

I was unaware (except for being able to read package labels that announce a product as "Gluten Free") that this is a profound issue, for some people.

Personally, I have no allergies. Yet, it seems, SOME people do. This is probably related to genetics, evolution, and the way that ALL species evolve...too soon to tell, I'd say.

Anyway....saw this video, wanted to 'toss it out' for discussion, if anyone is interested. I KNOW that I learned something, and am now more considerate of anyone who might be afflicted:

For some people it is a real issue but it also seems to be the new trendy condition to have. I know several people that have gone through 40+ years of their lives without any problems that suddenly have gluten sensitivities. They frown at me when I point out that ten years ago they suddenly developed peanut allergies that seem to have mysteriously disappeared.

 

[Gunguy45]

Saw the same thing. Very informative I thought. I know it's not a medical show, but I wished they had delved a bit more into the symptoms, treatments, etc. I was in bed so maybe I dozed during that.

I used to feel the same about those who said they were "lactose intolerant" (including my stepson starting at about age 16), whereas I've been a heavy milk drinker forever. Some weird looks when I order it at a nicer restaurant. After some research, I found its very common.

 

[jaydeehess]

Seems to me I read that lactose tolerance is more common among the more northern European populations, whereas intolerance is more common to more southern groups.

 

[deirdre]

isn't it Celiac disease? you have to avoid gluten. but don't know if that's an allergy or if people actually have allergies to gluten. and I don't want to look it up ; )

ps sorry if the video said this.. I didn't feel like watching it.

 

[Bill]

Lactose intolerance is a good one. I developed an intolerance for right around the end of puberty. It wasn't something that was really discussed in the 70's so it took some experimentation to figure out what was going on. It won't kill me - it just gives me a case of gas that is unpleasant for me and everyone else in the room and in the worst cases makes me vomit. I made it a point to avoid the ice cream and frozen yogurt my friends always enjoyed and was the odd man out in the group. After the initial advertising blitz pushing soy milk and Lactase I noticed more and more of these same people suddenly discovered they have problems with milk products. The majority eventually went back to eating normal diets (milk included) and those with the problem finally had the answer to that age old question - "why do I get gas when I drink eat ice cream?"

 

[Gunguy45]

Yes, thats the disease. Something about the cilia in the bowels (she always said gut in the interview) being damaged by gluten which means nutrients not being absorbed. Sorry we got a bit off track with the LI thing.

 

[Bill]

I read an interview with her where she was discussing her health problems. She has a severe enough of a reaction that it has actually cost her a couple jobs and as usual it took a while to figure out what was actually going on.

 

[David Fraser]

For some people it is a real issue but it also seems to be the new trendy condition to have. I know several people that have gone through 40+ years of their lives without any problems that suddenly have gluten sensitivities. They frown at me when I point out that ten years ago they suddenly developed peanut allergies that seem to have mysteriously disappeared.

To be fair you can develop gluten sensitivity with age. I developed a sensitivity a couple of years back with very painful bloating and it took a few efforts to pin point the cause as gluten. It's not to much of an issue as I don't eat processed foods and cook everything from scratch. I had to go gluten free for a while but I am fine with a couple of slices of bread a week.

 

[Bill]

To be fair you can develop gluten sensitivity with age. I developed a sensitivity a couple of years back with very painful bloating and it took a few efforts to pin point the cause as gluten.

Yes, but then you have my daughters friends. One of them became seriously involved with a young man that actually has Celiac disease. Suddenly five women I watched grow up, who up until that point had shown no symptomatology, were claiming to be sensitive to gluten. After the young man had moved away they continued this for a few months until it became a burden to them. Then the condition cleared up. I later learned my daughters University seems to have enrolled an abnormally high number gluten sensitive female students that year. It became trendy among their social group and claiming gluten allergies made them a part of the group.

 

[Soulfly]

The bunk is not so much that people self diagnose (cause i doubt eating a gluten free diet will kill anyone) their intolerance or allergy, but that the meme of GMO being the cause. Can't be since there are no GMO wheat on the market.

 

[Leifer]

Warren Olney (from KCRW, Los Angeles) recently reported on the Gluten phenom....and the episode gathers various viewpoints on the issue.
Guests include....
David Perlmutter, Neurologist
Joseph Murray, Mayo Clinic
April Peveteaux, Celiac sufferer
Kim Severson, New York Times
David Sax, author, 'The Tastemakers'

http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/sh...g-gluten-free-science-or-fiction-2014-12-24/#

 

[Dan Wilson]

Late to the thread, I guess, but I have some things to add. Celiac disease is indeed genetic, it tends to run in families and is associated with MHC genes. It is actually thought to be one of the most common genetic disorders, affecting 0.5-1% of the population, depending on the area. Although it is most often detected early in life, adults can develop the disease. The reason it is most often detected early in life, however, is that the symptoms are rather serious. The disease is essentially your immune system attacking gluten and causing inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract, but it can have systemic consequences. Children who go untreated are more likely to have growth and bone mineralization problems. They often won't gain weight, develop a distended abdomen, and have severe diarrhea. Later in life, untreated Celiac disease is associated with spontaneous abortions and (because it is chronic inflammation) an increased risk of certain cancers. The only treatment is just to avoid gluten.
http://www.uth.tmc.edu/pathology/medic/immunology/Immuno/Case 36-CD-Geha.Rosen.pdf
Case Studies in Immunology: A Clinical Companion

Self-diagnosis is shoddy and not worth the trouble of controlling your diet so tightly since gluten has no known negative effects if you don't have Celiac disease. Serological tests from your doctor can help to quickly diagnose you if you are concerned or have reason to suspect you might be sensitive.

 

[PeteSYD]

I agree that blood-tests are useful in the first instance, but in isolation should not be considered diagnostic of celiac disease. Individuals who return positive antibody screens should be referred to a gastroenterologist for endoscopic small-bowel biopsy, which is still considered the gold-standard test.

Interested parties can find an update for GP's from October 2014 at this link:

http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2014/october/coeliac-disease-where-are-we-in-2014/

From the bunk perspective, yes - there is a lot, not helped by quack diagnosis from naturopaths etc, or laughably spurious advice from people like Vani Hari, who milk people's fear and ignorance for financial gain.

 

[Ze'ev]

Hi, I am one of those who have multiple food allergies including wheat protein (gluten), milk protein (casein), soy protein and egg protein. You do not want to be me as it becomes very expensive for me to avoid these allergens and I am never long enough in one place for a successful desensitivization. It all started when my doctor noticed a high IgE count. At a count of 6731 it was more than 67 times higher than it should be. So I was tested for allergies and so I found out about my food allergies as well as a dog and cat allergy. Imagine that when I eat, if I left away the meat, I would be pretty much vegan.

Sadly, a lot of people self diagnose and people tend to make a profit off of it at the expense of people who actually have issues. Labels like "gluten-free", "vegan" and "organic" make products very profitable because idiots will use them just because of the label.

 

[Cairenn]

What kind of doctor did the testing? The gluten allergy is a special test. Have you had another doctor retest you? If I was you, I would contact the closest medical school and ask them for a referral.

I do not trust all doctors. For an allergy this intensive, I would want a second opinion at least.

 

[Hevach]

For that many allergies, there is a chance of a shared cause, like an autoimmune disorder. An allergist or immunologist referral may be in order. I had a lot less positives than that on a scratch test and was immediately referred to an immunologist (in my case it was a faulty test).

 

[Ze'ev]

It got all sorts of tests and all with the same results. I may have an autoimmune disorder that may be driving me Immunglobuline production up. And Cairenn, I was sent to different doctors since my main physician always wants second opinions. I do not self test, because commonly if you do not know specialised knowledge of something you shouldn't self test. A desensitivization would require me to be present once or twice a month for one to two years and even then, stopping the allergy is uncertain. Unfortunately, due to work I am commonly gone for half a year or so.

 

[Cairenn]

That is good, I have run into a bad doctor or two myself and so have friends.