Who Benefits from a Gluten Free Diet?

Gluten intolerance is a diverse condition ranging from mild intestinal discomfort and irritable bowel syndrome to life-threatening celiac disease and lymphomas. Following is a list of many of the illnesses and conditions associated with gluten intolerance:

Gastrointestinal diseases:
• Celiac disease (1 in 133 Americans)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Atrophic gastritis

Autoimmune and rheumatic diseases:
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Sjogrensyndrome
• Lupus
• Sacroiliitis and inflammatory low back pain
• Dermatomyositis
• Aphthous stomatitis

Endocrine diseases:
• Diabetes type I
• Thyroiditis
• Osteoporosis

Hematologic diseases:
• Pernicious anemia
• Iron-deficient anemia
• Lymphomas

Skin diseases:
• Dermatitis herpetiformis
• Keratosis pilaris

Neurologic diseases:
• Multiple sclerosis
• Seizures
• Peripheral neuropathy

Other Health Issues Related to Gluten Intolerance

Gluten intolerance can also affect cognitive processes. It has been demonstrated that gluten derived peptides (gluteomorphin or gliadomorphin) specifically interact with certain brain cell nuclei. Consumption of gluten can affect blood flow in the brain’s frontal lobe.

The role of gluten intolerance has been hypothesized in the following cognitive and mental disorders:
• Autism
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• “Brain Fog”
• Schizophrenia