What Are The Symptoms Of Gluten Reactivity?
Something we hear increasingly talked about today is the subject of gluten allergies. Many people do not know their immune system is reacting negatively to their intake of various foods since gluten is not something we typically see or taste, let alone know it is contained within so many foods. For individuals with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance is not just inconvenient — it can be debilitating. There are as many as 80 types of autoimmune diseases, with Gluten Reactivity near the top of the list. You can learn more here about Autoimmune Disorders and available treatments for autoimmune diseases.
Symptoms of gluten allergies include:
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Fatigue
- Joint/muscle pain
- Balance issues
- Brain fog/anxiety
- Allergies
In the video below Dr. Rob discusses what gluten is, available testing, treatments and offers a product for quick relief from a gluten reaction:
The product in the video Dr. Rob mentions is GlutenEase, an enzyme people with gluten sensitivities can take in a bind when they may have unknowingly consumed a product with gluten. You can get that from the manufacturer here: http://enzymedica.com/collections/food-intolerances/products/glutenease
Learn how you can get relief from the symptoms and feel better than you knew was possible by getting a Gluten Reactivity test. Contact us today at 937-350-5527 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Rob.
In the video, Dr. Rob explains what gluten is – a binding agent. More importantly, why is the label “Gluten Free” on foods that should not contain gluten at all?
Outside of bread and grain products, gluten is mainly in processed foods. Foods like sausages, hot dogs, deli and luncheon meats have often been filled with flour (gluten) for texture, as a filler and for thickening purposes. Much of the time, processed meat products are ground into a slurry and reconstituted with other ingredients to form what we see as a final product. Yes, that deli meat is often the result of a blended meat slurry formed into a block, then sliced to appear deli fresh. Please read labels carefully and speak to your local butcher. Better yet, stick to clean, organic and grass-fed meat and poultry.
On wheat/gluten proteome reactivity and autoimmunity:
MEASURING GLUTEN-REACTIVITY
Introduction
Current testing for Gluten-Reactivity and Celiac disease (CD) includes serum IgG and IgA against gliadin and tissue transglutaminase-2 (tTG2). These antibodies are measured against minor components of a wheat protein called alpha-gliadin. However, wheat consists of multiple proteins and peptides including, alpha-gliadin, omega-gliadin, glutenin, gluteomorphin, prodynorphin, and agglutinins. Any of these antigens has a capacity to challenge the immune system. Because of this heterogeneity of gluten proteins and peptides, multiple variations in T- cell responses may occur against them. Recent medical research indicates that a large number of gluten epitopes, may be implicated in the development of Gluten-Reactivity, CD and other associated conditions. The repertoire and hierarchy of gluten peptides stimulate the intestinal T- cells and results in a significant elevation of IgG and IgA production.
The measurement of IgA and IgG against multiple gluten epitopes in blood can have important implications in the accurate diagnosis and design of therapy for Gluten-Reactive and CD patients. For a comprehensive approach to this problem, pioneering, patent-pending technologies have been developed to measure IgA and IgG against various wheat components including alpha- gliadins, -17-mer and native + deamidated -33-mer, gamma-gliadin-15-mer, omega-gliadin-17- mer, glutenin-21-mer, opioid peptides (prodynorphin + gluteomorphin), gliadin-transglutaminase complex, and tissue transglutaminases -2, -3 and -6.
Research performed in-house confirms that different Gluten-Reactive and CD patients recognize an array of gluten antigens. For example, one patient reacts to omega-gliadin, but not to alpha- gliadin. The second patient reacts to all gliadin peptides, and the third patient reacts only to the wheat germ agglutinin.
Gluten-Reactivity is a systemic autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations. CD or gluten- sensitive enteropathy, is only one aspect of a range of possible manifestations of reactivity to gluten. And yet, this enteropathy, “one of the most common lifelong disorders in both the U.S. and Europe,” receives the lion’s share of focus to the point of ignoring other manifestations. Autoimmune disease, the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world,is 10 times more common in a gluten-sensitive enteropathy than in the general population. Thus, the burden on society from Gluten-Reactivity cannot be overestimated. Earlier identification might result in earlier treatment, better quality of life, and an improved prognosis for these patients.
The emphasis on Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy (Celiac disease) as the main manifestation of Gluten-Reactivity has been questioned. It is now accepted that Gluten-Reactivity is a systemic illness that can manifest in a range of organ systems. Such manifestations can occur independently of the presence of the classic small-bowel lesion that defines CD. That Gluten- Reactivity is regarded, as principally a disease of the small bowel is a historical misconception.
The Gluten-Reactivity has been proposed to include not only CD, but also Gluten-Reactive patients without mucosal lesions. From the skin (Dermatitis Herpetiformis, Psoriatic arthritis, Alopecia areata, Dermatomyositis, Cutaneous vasculitis), to the muscles (inflammatory myopathies), to the brain (Gluten Ataxia, altered neurotransmitter production, Schizophrenia, peripheral neuralgias, idiopathic neuropathies,) and beyond, pathology to gluten exposure can occur in multiple systems without evidence of an enteropathy.
Negative serology should not necessarily reassure the clinician of neither negative immune activation nor pathology. Several reports show that in the majority of Celiac patients, antibodies to gliadin and transglutaminase may be negative. In particular, seronegative CD seems to be quite frequent in patients with milder intestinal damage (Marsh I-IIIa lesions). And these lesions often present without elevated Celiac markers. Some reports identify the sensitivity as low as 27-31%with lesser degrees of villous atrophy. Patients with non-Villous Atrophy Gluten-Reactivity (Marsh I, Marsh II) are more likely than others to test negative for tissue transglutaminase and endomysial antibodies. Despite the many published reports on seronegative Celiacs, this subgroup understandably continues to be forgotten or not included in diagnostic workup, unless presenting with Celiac crisis. Why would that be? This seronegativity is due to the measurement of antibody IgG and/or IgA against only one antigen of wheat, alpha- gliadin.
Numerous complications have arisen regarding an accurate identification and diagnosis of Gluten-Reactivity, with or without the enteropathy CD. Clinicians have been frustrated with the high percentage of false negative serology.For example, CD has been called the “Unforgiving Master of Non-Specificity and Disguise.”Therefore, if Gluten-Reactivity and CD go undetected for years, the results could be devastating autoimmune conditions. Mechanisms of action are shown in the Figure 1.
Therefore, should Healthcare Practitioners limit their diagnostic inquisitiveness solely to the well- referenced indicators of a severe gluten enteropathy (anti-transglutaminase and endomysial antibodies)? Numerous researchers suggest not. Current serology testing—although highly sensitive and specific for severe gluten enteropathy— does not address the diversity of gluten peptides and the need for more sensitive markers of Gluten-Reactivity with or without CD.
Which is why we strongly recommend Cyrex Panels 3, 4, and 10 to discover your gluten health threat.
ReNue Health is located conveniently in Springboro, Ohio with easy access from Dayton International Airport, Cincinnati International Airport or the adjacent Wright Brothers Private Airport (MGY) for those travelling by private aviation. Click here for directions and contact information.
Only one visit is necessary to perform a comprehensive history, interview, and education. Follow up evaluations, adjustments and balancing of hormones are done by phone or written communications and a return visit to Dr. Rob is not necessary. Ongoing testing and adjustment is mandatory and performed through a laboratory convenient to your home.
In addition to the Ohio office, Dr. Rob sees new patients in Salt Lake City, Utah. Appointments for either location can be made by calling the main office number 937-350-5527 for information.
