Celiac Disease: Allergy to Gluten or Not?

Celiac disease is a disorder also referred to as gluten allergy, gluten hypersensitivity and Celiac Sprue. Although many people consider it a form of food allergy, it really is not. Allergy triggers often have three phases. First, a person is exposed to the allergic trigger (food, aerosol particle, drug, insect venom etc.) which stimulates specific cells in the body to process the allergen and influence other cells (lymphocytes) to make IgE antibody. These antibodies are released into the blood and attach to the surface of mast cells, which line the inner surface of the skin, nose, lungs, eyes, ears and intestines. This intial phase is called the sensitization phase.

The second phase involves the actual allergic reaction, early phase,  which occurs often within a few to several minutes after exposure to the allergen, after sensitization. This may occur weeks, months or years after sensitization. This phase is associated with symptoms that may include itching, sneezing, swelling, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness and other possible complaints depending on the region of the body involved.

The third phase, which does not always occur, is the late phase allergic response, which follows the early phase, but several hours later. This phase may last for hours to days. Some of the above symptoms associated with the early phase response may persist and worsen during this period.

The above sequence of events does not occur in celiac disease.  Celiac disease is a result of the production of a different antibody, IgA. This antibody attacks the lining of the small intestines resulting in a host of symptoms which may include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation.

Here is a recent article I posted about Celiac disease: Celiac Disease, Gluten Allergy, Gluten Hypersensitivity- Are They All the Same?