Follow-up

This is a follow-up to the question about the possibility of being allergic to wheat and having celiac disease. I was diagnosed with celiac disease more than three years ago. I recently had a RAST test for food allergies and the results were negative on all grains, yet I still cannot eat them. I am guessing it\'s the gluten I am allergic to and not the grain. Is my assumption correct or have I been misdiagnosed? If so, do you have any ideas that will be helpful?

1 Comment(s):

My first question is: how were you diagnosed? By a blood test? by a biopsy? - These are the only definitive ways of diagnosing somebody with celiac disease. Celiac Disease is not an allergy that is caused by an weak immune system. Celiac disease is on your genetic disposition and can be passed on from generation to generation. However, if somebody does not get diagnosed for a long time, the immune system can get weakend as the body is not able to absorb the vitamines and minerals necessary as the villis are damaged that carry out that function.
To answer your question: If you are a truly celiac, the gluten is toxic to your system (not the wheat). The specific name of the toxic prolamin of wheat is gliadin (a protein), of rye is secalin, of barley is hordein and of oats is avenin. Gluten is also found in spelt and kamut and contradictory to many believes also NOT GLUTEN FREE. The effect of these cereals differ: for example, the prolamins of oasts are considered to be less toxic to celiacs than those of wheat. The toxic effect on the individual is related to the total amount of prolamins consumed per day and the period of time such an intake is maintained.

Posted on August 28, 2006 6:48 PM, by: Customer Service