Their is a great degree of confusion as regarding individuals who should be screened for gluten sensitivity/intolerance?
Because research has shown that as many as 40% of all Americans may be gluten sensitive, and that 1 in 100 have a severe form of this sensitivity causing the the autoimmune intestinal disease, celiac sprue, a case can be made that everyone in America should be screened for gluten sensitivity.
However, there are people with various risk factors or diseases that are at greater risk of having gluten sensitivity who should undoubtedly be tested.
These conditions include:
• Microscopic colitis (inflammation of the colon)
• Relatives of those with celiac disease or gluten-sensitive individuals including
• Chronic diarrhea of unknown origin
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Hepatitis C
• Liver disease of unknown origin
• Dermatitis herpetiformis
• Diabetes mellitus
• Degenerative disc disease
• Colon Cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Psoriasis
• Any autoimmune diseases (common ones include):
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Lupus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sjogren’s syndrome
Scleroderma
Dermatomyositis
• Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• Asthma
• Migraine Headaches
• Osteoporosis
• Iron deficiency
• Failure to thrive (FTT) or short stature in children
• Down’s syndrome
• Mothers of kids with neural tube defects
• Female infertility (includes those with multiple miscarriages)
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Cerebellar ataxia (unexplained dizziness)
• Seizure disorders
• Psychiatric disorders (Schizophrenia and bipolar)
• Depression
• Alcoholism
• Autism
• ADHD/ADD
A new review in the American Journal of Gastroenterology recommends that those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) be genetically tested for gluten sensitivity intolerance. The Review elucidates the role of diet in the progression of IBS symptoms. The authors further state that the classic signs of celiac disease are often absent for those suffering with IBS even thought gluten is the culprit.
Source: Am J Gastroenterl2009;104:1587-94.
This article is a major breakthrough in the advancement for gluten sensitivity recognition. Traditionally IBS sufferers are told to “eat right and limit their stress”. IBS typically manifests as symptoms of gut pain, bloating, gas, and loose bowels. Endoscopic and other common diagnostic tests are most often negative leaving people without answers. Medical treatment of IBS is largely unsuccessful.
Food intolerance and allergy and infections are the most common contributing factors in the development of irritable bowel symptoms. It is important to have a physician evaluate these areas. If you haven’t watched my video on gluten sensitivity, I highly recommend you do so now as gluten is a major cause of IBS.
If you would like to be genetically tested for gluten sensitivity and your doctor won’t help you visit this link and you can get a home test kit sent to you.
Genetic Testing Now Available For Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease Without a Doctors Visit.
Test kit is mailed to your home
No Needles or blood draws (cheek swabs)
Confidentiality from your insurance company
Test results emailed promptly with either a positive or negative answer
Video download explains what you need to know and do if your results are positive
Family discounts are available on 2 or more test kits
You cannot control what genes you are born with, but you can identify them and change your diet and lifestyle to accommodate them. Fortunately gluten sensitivity and celiac disease can be evaluated with genetic testing.
Traditional diagnostic testing has focused on blood antibody tests and or intestinal biopsies. These tests are antiquated and typically come back falsely negative. Additionally, these tests are not specific for gluten sensitivity, they only measure for celiac disease. The problem is that if you have non-celiac gluten sensitivity and your doctor runs tests to measure celiac disease, the outcome of the lab will be very misleading.
Traditional lab tests for gluten sensitivity are often incorrect! Watch this to learn why genetic testing is the most accurate way to test…
Traditional labs only measure a fraction of how a person’s immune system can react to gluten. Add to the problem that different grains contain different types of gluten. Blood tests only measure the gluten found in wheat (gliadin). The other problem is that people react to gluten in different ways. Some people have immune reactions, some have intestinal problems, some develop psychological problems, some suffer with migraine headaches, psoriasis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis… The list is over 200 diseases long. I can’t even begin to tell you how many patients have come to my office after they were already biopsied or blood tested and told that they did not have gluten intolerance only to find out that their gene DNA tests were positive.
Unfortunately, the traditional definition of gluten is not 100% correct!
Why? Most of the research regarding gluten is directly linked to celiac disease, and most of the research on celiac disease focuses only on 3 grains (wheat, barley, rye) and sometimes a fourth (oats). There are a number of studies that have linked the gluten in corn to adverse reactions! But wait, there is more… Almost half of the people diagnosed with celiac disease do not get better on a traditionally defined gluten free diet! So the big question is…Why?! The answer – The traditionally defined Gluten Free Diet is not really gluten free.
There is usually a 30-50 year gap in medical research and its application in actual practice. Point being don’t expect your gastroenterologist or other specialist to start discussing gluten with you. Don’t take my word for it, watch the news report below. Fact is many doctors are on cue with the research curve, and many are not.
Who Should Be Genetically (DNA) Tested For Gluten Sensitivity?
Those directly related to someone who has already been diagnosed with gluten intolerance or celiac disease should always be tested, but those suffering with any of the following list of diseases should also get tested:
Those who suffer from chronic intestinal problems
Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
Chronic anemia
Osteoporosis
Migraine Headaches
Psoriasis
Eczema
IBS
Bipolar or Schizophrenia
Low thyroid (Hypothyroid)
ADD or ADHD
Autism
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Restless Legs Syndrome
Sleep Apnea
Type I or II diabetes
Multiple Sclerosis
Any Autoimmune Disease
Because of recent media exposure on The View, Larry King and Fox News, gluten sensitivity is becoming more and more of a house hold word. Watch the video below to see a recent report by Fox News featuring Dr. Osborne as an expert in gluten sensitivity. Pay particular attention to the symptoms and diseases that the woman had before finding out that she was gluten intolerant (hint – they were the opposite of celiac disease symptoms!)
Don’t know where your illness is coming from? It’s time for you to get tested…
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Dr. Osborne and Gluten Free Society Host Holiday Meeting
How To Navigate the Holidays and Stay on a Gluten Free Diet Make sure you save the date. When? Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 Where? University Branch Library Address – 14010 University Blvd. – Sugar Land, TX 77479 (At the University of Houston Sugar Land Campus). Map it here <<< Time? 11:00 am – 1:00 pm […]
Their is a great degree of confusion as regarding individuals who should be screened for gluten sensitivity/intolerance?
