Attack of the gluten intolerant sex addicts, Mark Morford

[madokie]

How much do you think you know for sure? How many of your personal afflictions and torments, ailments and woes are indisputably real, I mean obviously, I mean there is no doubt I feel this way because, well, we are nothing if not in love with our own creations, all the conditions we quietly like to invent, and then claim we are powerless to control?

Are you gluten intolerant? Pretty sure? Feels sort of right? Are you a fresh recruit in the upstart army of bread-bashers and pasta-cringers right now animating a very excitable multibillion-dollar industry, even though it was a zero-dollar industry just a decade ago because, after all, it’s bread. Wheat. Next to water, dark chocolate and latex fetish porn, it’s sort of a staple. Just ask Jesus.

There is some interesting news. It is very likely you are not. Gluten intolerant, that is. Few people really are, few really have full-blown celiac disease. But it sure is interesting to notice how many want to believe they are, to note our mad, collective desire to locate and prove the existence of another new and famously delicious non-demon that’s been around since the dawn of dawn. Oh, how we want to belong!

More interesting still? The more you believe such an ailment exists in your body – and then have others agree and validate that experience – the more it most certainly will. Belief creates symptom. Amazing creatures we are, no? Like flawed angels? Confused and broken gods, hurling lightning bolts at ourselves?

The rest: http://blog.sfgate.com/morford/2013/07/30/attack-of-the-gluten-intolerant-sex-addicts/

[B Calm]

1. Mark Morford has a way with words. . .

K&R

[SharonAnn]

129. And yet I have a friend who nearly died before being (finally) diagnosed with celiac disease.

She had lost so much weight and the constant diarrhea depleted her electrolytes yet the first few doctors found nothing. And another who, after being treated for all kinds of digestive problems and being put on various diets for many years was put on a gluten-free diet and "Bingo!" all the symptoms disappeared.

And yes, both are Scots-Irish heritage which I've been told, have a higher incidence of celiac disease.

[hobbit709]

2. My neighbor has now decided she is no loner gluten intolerant but has full blown celiac.

all because her chiropractor told her so, not because she had actual tests done.

Of course the same quack has told her a bunch of other Airhead 101 stuff too and she believes him because she'd rather go to him than a real MD

[pnwmom]

62. I had the opposite situation. The doctor tested me for everything from parasites to cancer,

trying to discover the source of my extremely painful intestinal bleeding, which had been going on for months, after years of irritable bowel symptoms.

I finally mentioned to him that I'd thought giving up milk products had helped, but then things got worse again. Then he said that Celiac disease is uncommon in general, but common among northern Europeans who had lactose intolerance. He gave me blood tests that yielded mixed results, so he said to try eliminating gluten. Within a few days all the bleeding and a lot of other symptoms (G.I. and other symptoms) cleared up completely. And I stayed symptom free for a couple years. I finally figured out that a new generic prescription must have been the culprit (the drug company claimed not to know), so I switched back to the brand name and the bleeding immediately went away.

Since then I've read that there is a gluten sensitive form of Crohn's disease, so that's probably what I have. Celiac or Crohn's doesn't matter -- the diet has given me back my life.

[MADem]

26. Is she rail thin? They usually are.

It's down to a small intestine issue; the wheat/gluten causes malabsorbtion in that area and people don't get their needed nutrients. People who are hefty are usually not celiacs.

As I am sure you probably already know, you have to get tested to get a diagnosis!

I know a few people who are on the BAD, BAD GLUTEN, BAD BAD WHEAT bandwagon.

Unless there's a genuine intolerance, verified by a physical exam, by an actual physician, not someone on the cusp of malpractice, people who have problems are probably overindulging.

Too much chocolate is bad for you, too, but a little is just grand.

[hobbit709]

29. She's quite overweight

This chiropractor is the same quack that told her what toxins she needed to remove from her body from the readout on a little box he strapped on her arm. the same quack that told her she just needed an adjustment when she had a bladder infection.
She also believes all that homeopathic quackery. And I know for a fact that one day she ate a meal with gluten in it and since she didn't know it was there , she had no effect whatever.

[MADem]

34. If that's the case, her small intestine is likely working jus' finnnnnnne!

She's got attentionitis, poor thing. That's what that chiropractor is treating, a need for attention. He should be ashamed of himself.

You can find gluten in stupid stuff like supermarket catsup and mayonnaise. If your neighbor will take the hotdogs and hamburgers (without buns) at the cookout, load 'em up with catsup, and have a heaping helping of potato salad, she's not a celiac at all!

[hobbit709]

37. I knew that from day one. I've known her for over 20 years.

She's also part of what I call the Disease of The Month-whatever new condition is trendy to have.

She has such a fear of real doctors that she goes to her quack with all her medical symptoms.

[pnwmom]

70. You can't tell who has Celiac or gluten sensitivity by looking at them,

and studies have shown that more adults with Celiac are overweight than underweight (unlike with children.)

The American Academy of Family Physician says that in every patient with "confounding symptoms" -- the kind of person who might appear to have a "disease of the month" -- gluten sensitivity should be strongly considered. It's much more often OVERLOOKED than diagnosed.

[pnwmom]

64. That's not true for adults. Many adults are overweight or even obese, unlike children with Celiac.

Many adults go undiagnosed at least in part because doctors expect to see the same pattern as in children. Children with Celiac tend to be thin and have diarrhea, but adults with positive endoscopies can be overweight and constipated.

And not all forms of gluten sensitivity can be discovered through the endoscopy and blood tests; and not all forms affect the small intestine. I was having severe lower intestinal symptoms, including bleeding, and it turns out there is a gluten-sensitive form of Crohn's disease -- which won't necessarily give a positive result on the standard Celiac tests. Sometimes an elimination diet is the only way to determine sensitivity.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17032202

Few celiac patients are underweight at diagnosis and a large minority is overweight; these are less likely to present with classical features of diarrhea and reduced hemoglobin. Failed or delayed diagnosis of celiac disease may reflect lack of awareness of this large subgroup. The increase in weight of already overweight patients after dietary gluten exclusion is a potential cause of morbidity, and the gluten-free diet as conventionally prescribed needs to be modified accordingly.

[pnwmom]

71. Wrong. In adults they're more likely to be overweight than underweight. It's the body's

way of compensating for poor nutrition.

[MADem]

140. I've never met an overweight celiac. nt

[pnwmom]

141. How many meetings held by Celiac organizations have you attended?

You'd see plenty there.

Children with Celiac tend to be underweight, but not adults.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17032202

Few celiac patients are underweight at diagnosis and a large minority is overweight; these are less likely to present with classical features of diarrhea and reduced hemoglobin. Failed or delayed diagnosis of celiac disease may reflect lack of awareness of this large subgroup. The increase in weight of already overweight patients after dietary gluten exclusion is a potential cause of morbidity, and the gluten-free diet as conventionally prescribed needs to be modified accordingly.

[didact]

98. chiropractor!?! LMAO.

[Berlum]

3. Get thee to a Glutenry, MorFord

...screed is missing more than a few bushels of research...

[proverbialwisdom]

150. +1. nt

[DetlefK]

4. Hint: If you get a murderous diarrhea after eating bread, you are gluten-intolerant.

Selective ignorance and self-victimization as tools to socialize. That's pathetic.

How is that any different from the "Obama-wants-to-kill-whitey"-republicans?

[hobbit709]

5. Depends on what else you ate.

If gluten is in the meal you ate and it happens every time, good possibility. You don't have to eat bread or pasta to consume gluten since it's added to so many things.
But way too many people claim they have a particular allergy or whatever without actually getting a medical diagnosis, just like I stated about my neighbor above.

[DetlefK]

9. What's weird is that you can outgrow celiac.

My brother has celiac. He was really sick as a baby and had to eat corn-bread as a child (which tastes horrible with anything salty or meaty), but little by little my parents introduced normal wheat-products into his diet and he's symptom-free approximately since age 15.

The count of gluten-antibodies in his blood is still beyond the scale, but an unknown effect is keeping them in check and he has somehow stopped being allergic.

[Pale Blue Dot]

16. Hint: If you get murderous diarrhea after eating bread, you should see a doctor.

Otherwise, your self-diagnosis could be wrong and you could do further damage to yourself.

[Ilsa]

27. Exactly. There may be a more serious diagnosis

at work and not celiac. My understanding is that celiac can only be confirmed by a biopsy of the gut.

[MADem]

40. They will often do a blood test first, because a lot of other problems can mimic celiac.

That's why people who diagnose themselves are doing themselves a serious disservice. They could have other issues that are causing the symptoms!

Recognizing celiac disease can be difficult because some of its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. Celiac disease can be confused with irritable bowel syndrome, iron-deficiency anemia caused by menstrual blood loss, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, intestinal infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome. As a result, celiac disease has long been underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. As doctors become more aware of the many varied symptoms of the disease and reliable blood tests become more available, diagnosis rates are increasing.

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/#diagnosis

[nadinbrzezinski]

80. It involves a two step dance

Blood test, revealing antibodies and a biopsy.

Celiacs is a serious diagnosis. Among other things, osteoporosis, nerve damage and problems with reproduction and out right infertility have been observed. There are also balance problems and skin rashes as well as dry skin. To say it is not serious it is ignorant at best oh and forgot anemia is also very common from micro bleeds in the gut

[Ilsa]

116. Being underweight and unable to

absorb nutrients is another symptom and outcome. Malnutrition brings about numerous other symptoms, diseases, and pathologies.

[nadinbrzezinski]

120. It is a very serious disease

Though I never had the underweight part...dead thyroid and all.



I won the genetic lottery, really

[SalviaBlue]

149. Or,

you could stop eating bread and other substances that give you murderous diarrhea and be happy that you have fixed your problem.

I would not see my doctor if I have figured out the problem. Can't really afford to chase symptoms that have been curtailed by a change in eating habits.

[pnwmom]

74. Or if you have irritable bowel symptoms, you might have gluten sensitivity

and should be tested.

Or if you have ostopenia, elevated liver enzymes, rectal bleeding, or a number of other symptoms your doctor should also rule out gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease.

[LisaLynne]

6. I thought this was going to be about Anthony Weiner. nt

[B Calm]

7. LOL

[Katashi_itto]

33. Your not alone, it took me a while to realize what he was getting at.

Nicely written though. Was fun to just read.

[LisaLynne]

41. Glad I wasn't the only one and actually glad it wasn't!

It was more interesting.

[Katashi_itto]

46. :)

[rainy]

8. I love Mark Morford but

he is off on this topic. I recommend the book: Wheat Belly. The over processed wheat is nothing like the wheat of biblical years. The grain itself is not the same. Today's wheat raises sugar levels, according to the author, causes cravings and is worse than candy on the sugar insulin cycle.

[JoDog]

14. I am sensitive to the "modern" gluten

that is mentioned in that book. Sometime in the 1950s, selective breeding to wheat increased the amount of gluten produced by the grain. This makes bread softer and fluffier while giving us an extra dose.

While I do not have the severe reactions of the gluten intolerant and those with Celiac's disease do, I do notice that my body and brain do not work as well as they do when I limit the amount of modern gluten in my diet. I can digest the stuff, but I am not at my best. If I eat a lot of it during a day, I crash by about 8 pm. I think it is one of those personal, body chemistry things. Some people can eat modern gluten and have no problems. Others are better with heritage grains with limited modern gluten. Another segment of the population cannot touch the stuff at all.

[rainy]

21. Yes, anyone can be sensitive and not realize it. In fact we are all affected by it just like we are

affected by sugar. It raises your sugar levels etc. with all that too much sugar implies applies to wheat.

[Katashi_itto]

47. I'm diabetic type II. That sounds like good reading, thanks!

[kchamberlin25]

10. My wife almost died.

My wife's iron level got so low that she could have had a stroke or heart attack because of undiagnosed celiac disease. She was almost fifty years old and had been (incorrectly) diagnosed as being allergic to barley as a child. She was very lucky to be seen by a gastroenterologist in the ER who recognized the symptoms and ordered an endoscopy.

You're right that gluten is in darn near everything.

[pnwmom]

75. I was also undiagnosed for decades. I'm glad your wife is better.

Welcome to DU!

[nadinbrzezinski]

83. I am, I read labels and cook a lot because of it

[Neurotica]

124. Wow. My brother went undiagnosed for over 20 years before he found the right doctor

who then ordered the endoscopy.

My brother had had stomach problems starting in middle school. At the time of diagnosis he was in his early 30s, anemic and rail thin because his intestines were not absorbing nutrients. Doctors had misdiagnosed him for quite a long time. It was very frustrating. Our mom is a dietitian but I'm not sure that celiac was on her radar screen then and she was listening to the doctors, who didn't recognize what they were seeing.

As soon as my brother was positively identified as having celiac and he cut out gluten, he put weight back on (in a healthy way).

An important thing to remember is the genetic tendency toward celiac. My brother's young daughter was just identified through the blood test as also having celiac. They won't do an endoscopy until she gets older, but in the meantime, cutting out gluten has improved her health as well. My kids had blood tests (and one had an endoscopy) following certain health problems, but their tests turned up negative and they're both ok now.

We always do a lot of meal planning when we all get together and select restaurants carefully.

Glad your wife found a physician who knew what to do.

[malaise]

11. Good read

Rec

[fasttense]

12. It's easy to poo-poo someone else's allergies.

I must confess I was an allergy non-believer when I suddenly broke out in hives all over my body. I went to the doctor and he couldn't figure out what I was allergic to but it was clearly an allergic reaction. I stopped wearing the latex stockings and the hives and rash went away. To this day, I break out in a rash if latex is in my clothes. My lips swell up if the dentist uses latex gloves.

I wish to apologize to everyone who claimed to have an allergy but were never diagnosed by a doctor. I will never poo-poo someone else allergies again. You don't need a doctor to figure out most allergies.

[pnwmom]

85. Exactly. nt

[Dash87]

13. This guy is uninformed, to say the least.

Celiac is genetic to my family and was diagnosed by a doctor. There are real symptoms with it, and many of them are fairly uncomfortable depending on the type the person has.

To say it's mostly made up is silly. Of course they can eat gluten and be fine - it just causes uncomfortable side-effects that they don't want to live with.

[Pale Blue Dot]

18. He's not saying it's made up. He's saying it's rare.

"Few people really are, few really have full-blown celiac disease."

The key to your post is that your family was diagnosed by a doctor. The majority of people today who are claiming gluten intolerance are self-diagnosing. That's what the author is railing against.

If you think you have a problem, see a doctor; don't make assumptions with your health.

[pnwmom]

76. Diagnosed full-blown celiac disease is just the tip of the iceberg of gluten sensitivity.

Many people are positive on the blood tests, and at risk for all the complications of Celiac (including an elevated risk of cancer and auto-immune diseases), before they develop any symptoms. Other people have gluten-sensitive Crohn's, or liver disease, or even epilepsy.

It isn't nearly as rare as most doctors were once taught in medical school.

[uriel1972]

15. Yes there are loopy people who self-diagnose...

This is not new, it's been happening for centuries, for as long as we have had medicine perhaps, maybe even longer. The tragedy is to lose sight of those who really have these allergies and intolerances.

I have lactose intolerance, a glass of milk and it's explosive diarrhoea time. I am not imagining this, it took me a long time to discover the root cause of my intestinal problems and yes I did exclusion to 'prove' it.

My difficulty is mild, all I have to do is avoid straight cows milk, I can eat a little cheese and butter. However some conditions, especially the allergies can be life-threatening.

Don't fall into the trap of brushing off everyone who says they are ill. Some of them are. This reminds me of how depression and schizophrenia are sometimes treated by people who think they know better as 'all in the mind'.

I am glad for the gluten-intolerant and other lactose-intolerant people that there are now products availablw for them. If that comes with the price of 'hangers on' then so be it. I'll be a little sad if that's the case, but not angry.

[Ilsa]

30. I have a threshold for lactose products.

My body is producing some lactase to digest it, I believe, but not enough for a bowl of cereal plus milk, a serving of ice cream or mac & cheese. I can eat a little, but a lot sends me cramping to the toilet.

[MADem]

31. I knew a guy who was addicted to ice cream, AND lactose intolerant.

Nowadays they have all that tofooey and other types of "ice cream" that don't involve the dairy cow, but years ago, that was not the case. They also have medicines people can take to mitigate symptoms.

He'd eat the damn ice cream, knowing full well that he'd end up on the crapper. He just loved the stuff. We knew that the downstairs bomb site would be "unavailable" for a considerable period of time if he decided he just had to have him some ice cream!

And he'd gripe--loudly--about his ailment and let us all know how much he was suffering (at his own hand, too). And the stank!!!!

Ah, memories!!!

[pnwmom]

77. Thank you. The OP was infuriating to me, who suffered needlessly

from something misdiagnosed as irritable bowel for decades till I finally started to have symptoms of Crohn's and a new GI doctor finally told me to go off gluten.

[treestar]

17. It is interesting to see how they are selling things as gluten free

When most people don't have celiac disease.

[rainy]

22. You don't need to have celiac to not want to have wheat products

wheat is a waste of a starch. It's acid forming in the body that strives to keep a slightly alkaline balance. It raises the sugar level in the body faster that white sugar so maybe we should all cut back. We'd be healthier and thinner.

[pnwmom]

78. There are many forms of gluten sensitivity besides Celiac disease.

I had irritable bowel syndrome for decades, that finally turned into what appeared to be Crohn's (with cramps and bleeding). It turned out to be gluten-sensitive, thank goodness. My daughter had elevated liver enzymes that improved with a gluten-free diet.

OP's like this do a disservice to the many people who have a serious problem with gluten.

[Orrex]

19. I think he's making a larger point than gluten

Morford is making a reasonable observation based on statistical probability; the sudden recent incidence of gluten-intolerance is conspicuous, considering the frequency of actual diagnosis of the condition. It is not inappropriate to question the increased frequency of the condition. It is possible that more people are diagnosed because more people have become aware of it and have consulted their doctors. It is also possible that more people are self-diagnosing for other reasons.

Pharmaceutical companies famously propagandize new diseases, convincing people that they're suffering from some malady that the company's patented drug can treat. When this happens, we criticize the companies for manufacturing or embellishing a problem for the sake of profit, even if people honestly claim to suffer from the described condition.

How is this different from the gluten trend? Morford correctly notes that gluten-intolerance was nearly unheard of a decade ago, but today you can't go to a deli or coffee shop without seeing a "certified gluten-free!" sign proudly emblazoned.

"But I really am gluten intolerant," someone will claim. Fine with me. But how does that differ from the person who claims to suffer from the syndrome now treatable by this or that patented pharmaceutical?


I absolutely don't doubt that people suffer from gluten-intolerance. However, it's curious that we are so quick to cry foul when Morford questions the reality of one condition, in exactly the same way that we cry foul when drug companies assert the reality of others.

[Celebration]

28. there is no financial motive involved

That is the difference. Drug companies push for various supposed conditions to become labeled so that they can sell products at inflated prices to overcome the supposed conditions.

People that notice their various subtle or non subtle symptoms improving when they limit wheat may incorrectly be diagnosing celiac, but they feel better when they don't eat as much wheat, due to lower post prandial response, or whatever. It is more about the patient paying attention to their own bodies. No doctor would diagnose me with celiac, most likely, but I tend to gain weight, feel bloated and tired when I eat too much wheat. It can't be about carbohydrates because I can eat any amount of fruit and be fine.

So, anyone can make fun of this if they want, but why shouldn't people pay attention to the way food makes them feel? Do I really need some doctor to tell me what to eat to make me feel my best? That's a pretty ridiculous notion.

[Orrex]

39. That's simply an ad hominem objection

A claim is true or false regardless of potential profit. For instance, when we observe that chondroitin supplements offer no demonstrable benefit for joint health, we need not consider the huge profits that the multi-billion dollar supplement industry reaps from its propaganda about that dubious product.

If you want to tailor your diet to suit your own comfort, then I say go for it. Never have I asserted otherwise, in fact. However, when you perform a best-guess self-diagnosis based on your own anecdotal observations, then it is grossly irresponsible to assert your musings as if they were medical fact. You might even be overlooking an additional serious condition in favor of a handy quick-fix. In short, you can't credibly claim to be gluten intolerant without a diagnosis to that effect. You can assert your belief in your gluten intolerance, and you can assert your discomfort following ingestion of gluten products, but absent a formal diagnosis, then it's irresponsible to make a hard claim about it. If another person bases a medical decision upon your testimony, then you have done a gross disservice to that person.

I know from experience that you like to invoke freedom of choice and the first amendment as a defense for unsubstantiated medical claims. You are free to choose whatever you please, and you are free to assert whatever you care to assert, but that doesn't mean that you are correct or justified in doing so.

So, anyone can make fun of this if they want, but why shouldn't people pay attention to the way food makes them feel? Do I really need some doctor to tell me what to eat to make me feel my best? That's a pretty ridiculous notion.

It sure is, which is why I would never make such a preposterous assertion.

[Celebration]

43. well, it all comes down to how you view anecdotal evidence

AND the evaluation of risk.

I am certainly NOT stating that everyone has wheat intolerance based on my anecdotal evidence. But the internet allows us to share things such as undiagnosed reactions to foods. If someone reads about lots of people having the same type symptoms, and that eliminating or limiting a certain food item, in this case, wheat, can help, then why not try it? There just isn't a downside. It will either help or it won't.

My adding my two cents into this conversation is not diagnosing anyone, but it actually may cause someone to consider that they may have a similar reaction to wheat-- They may choose to try various diets and evaluate how they affect various symptoms. I certainly would recommend that. Drinking almond milk instead of cow's milk, and reducing the amount of wheat I eat has made an enormous difference in my life, helped objective measures such as blood pressure and blood sugar, neither of which I need a doctor to monitor, and I tried it based on the anecdotal evidence of others. I am only throwing in my hat into the anecdotal evidence that was already there.

Why would I need any doctor to diagnose anything in order to try this? I don't! I don't need to have a test done, I don't need to wait around in a doctor's office, I don't need lab fees, I don't need a label. I don't need anyone to take any biopsies that probably wouldn't show anything anyway. Think of how much money I am saving in the national health care cost! Other people can go to their doctors if they want. I happen NOT to get gastrointestinal symptoms when I eat wheat (other than getting a full feeling) so I think I would have had a tough sell with any doctor anyway.

Since when were we talking about chondroitan in this thread? Talk about ad hominem!!! The discussion is about the number of people who notice various symptoms when they eat wheat, not about taking supplements for some condition.

[Orrex]

45. You're missing the point

Why would I need any doctor to diagnose anything in order to try this?

You wouldn't, of course.
Incidentally, that's your other favorite tactic: you ask a question as though you're expressing disbelief at a claim that I have made, when in fact I've made no such claim at all. Therefore I see no reason to respond to that claim or defend against it.

Since when were we talking about chondroitan in this thread? Talk about ad hominem!!!

I suspect that you might not be clear on what that term means. Can you explain why you perceive this as an a hominem?

I mentioned chondoitin to demonstrate that claims made about that substance are true or false regardless of the motivations of the person or agency making those claims. It would be an ad hominem to attack the motivations of the agency as evidence that the claim is false. The claim may be false, and the agency may be corrupt, but each of those possibilities is independent, and demonstrating one of them does not prove or disprove the other.

[Celebration]

51. wait a minute!

You wanted to know why gluten intolerance was different from pharmaceutical companies promoting various conditions. I said "the profit motive." Then, you bring up chondroitan. Since I never said that nutrition companies don't promote certain conditions, your bringing that up was "ad hominem."

My saying that I have symptoms when eating wheat has NOTHING to do with either nutritional companies OR pharmaceutical companies promoting certain diseases. I have no financial gain in saying that.

[Orrex]

52. If you were the only person who made claims about gluten, then that would be fine

The "gluten-free" industry, like any niche-product market, is a terrific moneymaker that simply didn't exist a decade ago. The fact that you receive no financial windfall is irrelevant. The companies that sell products based on the perceived benefits of gluten are certainly reaping the benefits.

Of course, that doesn't mean that their claims are false. It simply means that they are in a position to gain from the perception that gluten intolerance is more widespread than it might truly be.


I brought up condroitin as an example of why it is invalid to dismiss a claim solely because of a perception of potential financial gain by the claimant, but the particular product is irrelevant. I chose condroitin because it's another product hard-marketed to treat a perceived medical condition. If you are uncomfortable with that example, I invite you to offer any alternative that appeals to you, because the issue is the same.

[Celebration]

125. well

I don't use gluten free products at all. And I still eat some gluten. I just limit it. The gluten free industry DOES NOT HAVE PATENTED PRODUCTS ON WHICH THEY EARN MONOPOLY PROFITS. Huge difference from pharmaceuticals, not to mention the size of the industry.

[Orrex]

130. That's a difference in degree, not in kind

If it's wrong to create the impression that people suffer from a medical condition that needs to be treated with a certain product, then it is wrong whether that product is a bottle of special pills or a loaf of special bread.

[Celebration]

146. it is a difference in kind

When it is the public funds (Medicare and Medicaid) and the public insurance money that pays monopoly profits for unneeded drugs, thus negatively impacting the economy.

In the case of gluten free foods, people are simply substituting one food for another. There are no monopoly profits involved, so at best they are paying just a bit more, but it is THEIR choice (much unlike a public expenditure, which is visited on the public at large, without any choice involved!)

[Orrex]

148. That's a difference of funding, not of fact

If it's wrong to create the impression that people suffer from a medical condition that needs to be treated with a certain product, then it is wrong whether that product is a bottle of special pills purchased with public money or a loaf of special bread purchased with private funds.

[Celebration]

154. weird, but

I haven't even heard of gluten free foods doing anything other than putting them up for sale. Do you have evidence that they try to convince everyone that they have celiac????? I'd love for you to point me to an ad or something because I must have missed it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

69. This is why you need to have it in your medical record

A stay in the hospital.

[Celebration]

126. that is for the celiac crowd, though

Most people that are sensitive to gluten and wheat really couldn't get a diagnosis even if they wanted it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

127. Wrong, I have it in my record

If I need to stay in the hospital, it will be a kitchen nightmare. Between the diabetes and this.

Let's put it this way...I have any and I will get very sick, very fast.

[nebenaube]

53. and coincides with the emergence of roundup ready wheat. n/t

[Orrex]

58. And with increased crop circle occurrences. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

68. You know the treatment in this case involves zero meds

Trust me, I know.

[pnwmom]

81. I really am gluten insensitive.

When I eat gluten, I bleed. When I don't, I don't. Is that clear enough?

I didn't want to be gluten sensitive. It was my GI doc who ordered me to try the diet, after I had some tests that indicated Celiac and some that didn't. It turns out there are forms of Crohn's disease that are gluten-sensitive, but no test for that other than the elimination diet.

It is infuriating to me, as someone who went misdiagnosed for years (with irritable bowel syndrome), to read essays like Morford's.

[Orrex]

87. I'm glad that you've found a treatment that helps you.

Since you've been diagnosed, Morford's article has nothing to do with you.

If you hadn't been diagnosed, then it would be dangerously irresponsible of you to attempt self-treatment of the undiagnosed bleeding condition, since it might indicate something much more severe.

Morford is addressing bandwagon "sufferers" who have heard about gluten intolerance and have decided that they suffer from it.

[pnwmom]

90. It has a LOT to do with me, because it encourages people to

mock and disregard people like me when we say we are gluten-sensitive.

I shouldn't have to go into a detailed discussion of my bowels to convince people to take me seriously when I say I'm gluten-sensitive, but thanks to people like Morford, I often do.

And I'm extremely GRATEFUL to any people who just happen to be on the bandwagon, because that means there is finally better labeling and many more products available to people who need to be gluten-free.

But really, think about it -- the diet is so onerous. Anyone who goes on it as a fad will be soon discouraged.

[Orrex]

99. Well, the blame falls upon the people who dubiously self-diagnose

Morford shouldn't be faulted for pointing out the absurdity of the trendy self-diagnosers. In my experience, people who actually suffer from the condition are much less likely to broadcast it then are people who simply decide that they have it and then tell everyone who will listen.

But really, think about it -- the diet is so onerous. Anyone who goes on it as a fad will be soon discouraged.

If only it were that simple; alas, that's not how it works. Instead, the self-diagnosers declare themselves to be intolerant as they sit down for a gluten-heavy pizza. And when asked about it, they will say "yeah, I'll really feel it later."

That's why they're annoying.


I agree that better labeling is a benefit, but I have misgivings about the industry using it to leverage additional sales from the credulous.

[pnwmom]

101. Do you have a study to prove that many people mistakenly diagnosis themselves

with gluten-intolerance, or do you only have anecdotal evidence?

Do you have a study to prove that the people who actually suffer from the condition are "less likely to broadcast it" than people who don't? Everyone I know who has a diagnosed gluten-sensitivity MUST broadcast it, because it's the only way we can eat when we're not at home.


http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/1215/p2259.html

From the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy (Celiac Disease): More Common Than You Think

SILENT CELIAC DISEASE
A number of investigators believe that clinically apparent gluten-sensitive enteropathy represents the “tip of the iceberg” of the overall disease burden.7 Patients who were detected in the seroprevalence studies8–11 were asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic (so-called “silent” celiac disease).

Family physicians should consider serologic testing in patients with the following: family history of celiac disease, personal history of thyroid disease or type I diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, anemia (especially iron deficiency), chronic diarrhea, chronic fatigue, unexplained weight loss, short stature, epilepsy, infertility,18 or unexplained elevation of transaminase levels. Asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic patients are still at risk for complications of celiac disease.

[nadinbrzezinski]

102. Exactly

I need to state this to servers every time we go out

[Orrex]

105. I have declared it to be my anecdotal experience

Therefore I'm under no obligation to offer up a study in support of it.

I used the phrase "in my experience," as a matter of fact. Was that not clear? I have, by a rough, back-of-the-napkin estimate, known about 150 people who've declared their self-diagnosed gluten intolerance versus two who've revealed an actual diagnosis by a medical professional. That's not to say that the self-diagnosers can't have the condition, but they would be well advised to seek formal diagnosis if only to eliminate the possibility of a more serious condition displaying similar symptoms.

Also, in case I was unclear, I don't perceive you to be broadcasting in this context, because you're relating personal experience directly relevant to the discussion.
I apologize for my imprecision in articulating this.

[pnwmom]

108. But you have previously denigrated the value of anecdotal evidence

even when it is identified as such.

So why are you offering it now?

It insults people who do have gluten-insensitivity and encourages other people not to take our problem seriously -- when in fact you have no evidence beyond your personal opinion that there are people on gluten-free diets who don't need to be on them for reasons of health.

[Orrex]

117. Ah. A fair question.

It's true that anecdotal evidence is no substitute for scientific study. If I were dictating health policy or claiming that a product offered a particular health benefit, it would be unacceptable for me to base such claims upon anecdote.

When assessing a general trend based on personal experience, it is entirely appropriate to offer up anecdote in that context. I'm not prescribing a course of treatment; I'm describing what I have observed. If someone can cite a study that contradicts my experience, I will happily defer to it. That's very different from accepting anecodote in preference to empirical evidence.

If someone has symptoms consistent with gluten intolerance, that person should certainly seek evaluation by a medical professional because of the risk of something more serious. Last year my father thought that he'd pulled a muscle in his lower abdomen. When he went to the doctor three days later, he learned that his appendix had burst. If he'd gone with his self-diagnosis, he'd very likely be dead now.


The fact that I remain skeptical of the self-diagnosed gluten-intolerant pizza-eater absolutely doesn't mean that I don't take your problem seriously. Quite the opposite, in fact.

[pnwmom]

118. Thank you for the clarification. Unlike Morford, you're not just mocking people

with this problem.

[Orrex]

121. Thanks--I regret that my wording has caused confusion.

[Enthusiast]

20. I wish there was an unrecommend feature........nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

134. This is one of those weird situations that I agree

[cbdo2007]

23. There is a difference between "gluten intolerance" and "celiac disease"

It's true that it is pretty rare for someone to have Celiac Disease - which is an allergy to gluten that can be diagnosed as an allergy by a doctor.

It's actually pretty common for people to have a "gluten intolerance" - which is that they have a minor reaction to eating gluten such as getting diarrhea, stomach pains, acid reflux, skin blisters, etc.

My wife has a "gluten intolerance" so of course the doctors didn't find anything yet within 3 minutes of eating anything with even a small amount of gluten in it she will get major stomach pains and within an hour will have diarrhea. Every single time she eats gluten this happens (unfortunately she unknowingly will eat it when we go out and they don't have things labeled correctly).

So yeah it is a fad, for the weight loss crowd, but it's ridiculous to say it isn't a real thing when there are obviously millions of people who have the same experience as my wife does. Her Mom also....undiagnosed by a doctor (of course) so it isn't Celiac, but if she eats gluten she gets blisters on her hands - every time. Within a few days they go away. I'd sure be interested to hear what the author here has to say about her symptoms and that it's directly tied to the gluten in her diet.

[pnwmom]

84. Has anyone ever suggested that your mother-in-law might have

Last edited Wed Jul 31, 2013, 02:34 PM - Edit history (1)

dermatitis herpetiformis? That's a skin reaction specific to gluten sensitivity, that causes intensely itchy blisters.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0201/p470.html

"to the editor: In the article, “Autoimmune Bullous Dermatoses: A Review,”1 one of the conditions the authors discuss is dermatitis herpetiformis. They suggest that gluten-sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease) is an associated manifestation of dermatitis herpetiformis and that a gluten-free diet is one way to treat dermatitis herpetiformis. I think dermatitis herpetiformis should rather be thought of as a variant or complication of untreated celiac disease.2 Supporting this is the fact that dermatitis herpetiformis and celiac disease share the same human leukocyte antigen haplotype and show similar results on serum and intestinal antibody testing. Typical pathologic changes of celiac disease are found on small intestinal biopsy in almost 100 percent of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis.2"

__________________________________

Besides the skin condition, there are also many other conditions that are sometimes related to gluten sensitivity -- including elevated liver enzymes, alopecia, epilepsy, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's.

[AlbertCat]

24. It's amazing!

Look at all the folks who missed the point of this piece!

[MADem]

32. +1 nt

[LisaLynne]

35. Yes. nt

[Orrex]

42. Why don't you help out those benighted readers, then?

[AlbertCat]

54. Why don't you help out those benighted readers, then?

Figure it out yourself....

But here's a clue: It's not about your personal experience with gluten....

[Orrex]

57. Well no shit.

Thanks for nothing!

[AlbertCat]

59. Pssssssst...

(it's not about gluten either)

[Orrex]

61. pm sent!

[pnwmom]

89. But people with a personal experience with gluten,

people who have had intestinal bleeding due to gluten, or elevated liver enzymes, or alopecia, or dermatitis herpetiformis, or a number of other symptoms, are all going to find the OP's mockery infuriating.

[ananda]

36. Gluten and almost lactose free here...

... but not on purpose or because I'm intolerant. It's just a
diet issue. My goal is to prevent pain and inflammation and
excessive weight gain. So I just avoid all grains and almost all
dairy, and of course I avoid all processed and junk foods and drinks.
I do eat a bit of goat feta on salads, though its protein and lactose
are different from most dairy products.

I avoid the grains because of the carbs. My understanding is that
carbs contribute more to weight gain and diabetes than actual fat
does. In fact certain fats and oils are good for you, though not
the hybrids or trans fats or processed stuff.

I try to do energy and body work too, and that can be helpful
especially after I over excercise or eat a bad food. Energy work,
massage, and diet always help me get my body back on track.

[Celebration]

44. AMEN to all this!

This is me exactly, but fruit, which is carbs, is okay with me, so for me it isn't a general carb issue. Not sugar, though. MUST. NOT. EAT. CUPCAKES.OR. DOUGHNUTS, except special occasions!!

Oh, and almond milk ROCKS!

[KittyWampus]

50. There are now many, many blogs w/ grain free recipes for donuts/cupcakes/bread. It's a Renaissance

for low carb diets right now.

[KittyWampus]

49. Right there with you. IMO, those of us who try to attain better health via diet/meditation are

somewhat threatening to those who haven't decided to change. Even if we aren't proselytizing or overtly condemning anyone else's choices… we still represent change.

It makes me a bit sad that many people won't sit silently and listen to their own body.

[AlbertCat]

55. Life is not worth living....

..... without bread and cheese.

Of course there's this thing called "moderation".

[KittyWampus]

73. it's possible to make both without grains. Or dairy, for that matter. And make food that's delicious

that anyone will enjoy.

[abelenkpe]

38. Gluten intolerant?

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/news/20110208/new-treatment-for-celiac-disease

"The new research also shows that retinoic acid, a vitamin-A derivative found in acne treatments such as Retin-A and Accutane, may be complicit in the onset of celiac disease."

-----------------

Personally love pasta, but have a friend who believes her teenage acne treatments caused her to develope Celiac disease.

[KittyWampus]

48. People hate others who insist on changing themselves for the better. Attaining better health through

changing ones diet is anathema to those eating a standard american diet.

The food pyramid that puts grains/wheat at the bottom is screwed up. It messes with your blood sugar and gut.

"Let your medicine be your food and your food be your medicine".

Using alternative, holistic health modalities are anathema to those who only believe in the validity of allopathic medicine.

If your worldview is materialistic, it makes sense that being able to listen to what your body is telling you would be scorned.

What Morford doesn't get is that he and everyone else agreeing with him are in their own feedback loop seeking validation from each other.

I scorned those eating the "Paleo" diet when I first heard about it, now I visit the blogs daily for grain-free recipes.

Learn to expand your horizons. Don't be so quick to condemn alternative viewpoints.

[AlbertCat]

56. People hate others who insist on changing themselves for the better.

No they don't. Jesus!

To be healthy, eat a variety of things in moderation.

[Orrex]

60. A very strong correlation exists...

A very strong correlation exists between the layperson's use of the word "modality" and a belief in unverified "alternative" "medicine."

Who has asserted hatred for anyone trying to improve themselves? No one in this thread or anywhere in my recent experience, to be honest. Likewise, I've never heard of anyone condemning the benefits of an improved diet. Of course, there is some dispute about what constitutes an improvement in this regard.

If your worldview is materialistic, it makes sense that being able to listen to what your body is telling you would be scorned.

How so? Assessment of one's bodily responses is entirely consistent with a materialistic worldview.

The food pyramid that puts grains/wheat at the bottom is screwed up. It messes with your blood sugar and gut.

What's your source for this medical claim?

[KittyWampus]

65. You actually want to argue that simple carbs screw w/blood sugar? Really?

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/32/11/2312.short
http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/carbohydrates.html

[Orrex]

66. Are you replying to me? Because you're arguing against a point that I didn't make.

[KittyWampus]

72. You asked what is my source for this medical claim. I gave it to you.

The food pyramid that puts grains/wheat at the bottom is screwed up. It messes with your blood sugar and gut.

What's your source for this medical claim?

[Orrex]

79. Thanks.

Asking for a source is not "arguing that simple carbs screw w/blood sugar."

It I claimed the opposite, that simple carbs have nothing to do with blood sugar, you would rightly ask me for my source, and it would be up to me to provide it.

[AlbertCat]

82. simple carbs screw w/blood sugar.

By "screw" they mean "effects".


And there's a name for alternative medicines that work....

They are called "Medicine".

[KittyWampus]

131. no, I mean negatively effects.

[drokhole]

96. My favorite was when he wrote this:

"Hey, it feels good to be sure of something, no?"

...after an entire diatribe of stating with absolute certainty that people he's never met don't know shit about their own bodies and how they react to eating and eliminating certain foods. Not sure what that article was aside from smug self-certainty. Plenty of problems wrong with his argument (not least of which is that particular total lack of self-awareness), but I always find interesting the lack of thinking through the "it's only in your head" arguments. As if people haven't tried other medications, treatments and/or dietary and exercise regimes and fully believed in them to work, only for them to fail. If it all comes down to the "placebo" effect (a non-explanation explanation if there ever was one), why would it be - for some people - so strong in the case of eliminating wheat/grains? If it is that strong, wouldn't that make it an effective treatment in and of itself - "placebo" or not? Why the amazing health turnarounds from people who might not show up as celiac or gluten sensitive on a test result? When you eat a certain food that causes you problems, there is just no denial of headaches, gas cramps, diarrhea, fatigue, etc... - regardless of a test result. Morford, like so many others, do a great job of confusing the map with the territory.

There are plenty of problems with modern wheat aside from gluten - from the grain itself to the way it's processed. Not worth delving into as these arguments can become incredible time sinks. Will just end by saying what I should've limited my reply to - your post was great.

[BREMPRO]

63. personal story...had bad digestion for years until i discovered WITHOUT doc's help it was caused by

food intolerances. Back in the 70's as a teenager had horrible digestion- always had diarrhea every morning and i'd have to run to the bathroom at school and had constant breakouts of acne (i know normal for that age but wait) Doctors diagnosed with spastic colon, divirculitus ,all "diseases" with corresponding medications prescribed... their fancy expensive meds didn't help. Then when i was in my late twenties had a few stressful weeks at work that culminated in a visit to the hospital with a racing heart 160bpm! was diagnosed with "panic attacks" but that didn't feel right.. i was stressed but no reason for panic... I talked to a friend about it and she suggested i might have food allergies/sensitivites.. I poo pood the suggestion as i never made a connection since i felt fine right after i ate, the symptoms however would come on 4 or so hours after a meal.. so i started experimenting, cutting out the most common allergens, wheat eggs, dairy and suddenly, no digestive problems!! and also cured my persistant late pubescent acne!! so later got some testing that confirmed the sensitivities.. had episodes years later that would get me up in the middle of the night with racing heart and feeling of doom, turned out i had become more sensitive to onions and garlic!! cut those out, as well as caffeine and NO more panic attacks, acne, or digestive issue. none!. also got my energy and mental focus back. Had to diagnose MYSELF, no help from the main stream medical system that just wanted to sell me a pill that i would have to take for the rest of my life. Simpler and CHEAPER to just eliminate the culpits i was sensitive too and buy gluten free products like bread and rice pasta. I can now eat an occasional pizza, or egg and not too much trouble, but i notice the acne and bad digestion comes back a few days after the pizza, so have to keep it down. It's like a rain barrel, you can fill it up, and not get symptoms unless you overflow... everyone is different and can have unique food sensitivities. I would suggest experimenting with food elimination and an antigen test if you think you have them. BTW i was tested for celiac and DO NOT have it. i also take a digestive enzyme now that helps as when u get older these diminish.

Long story , but all true. There ARE people with gluten sensitivity and it is a serious condition that had been under-diagnosed. perhaps it's now over-diagnosed now, but if it makes you FEEL better to not eat gluten, why would you question it??

[nadinbrzezinski]

67. Ignorant piece of woo

Actual diagnosis is on the way up...so says my brother, among others....who actually are gastroenterologists and work with real patients.

And by the way, part of the reason is education of MDs, the other is hard to understand.

And by the way, if I get any gluten into my system, you will know it, and painfully so, so will I.

[pnwmom]

86. I also read about a study where they looked at blood samples that had been stored

for decades, and followed up with the SAME people now.

People who were negative as adults decades ago are positive for the Celiac antibodies now. So there was an actual increase in the number of cases of Celiac among that group of people, and they're trying to figure out what might be causing this.

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. One of the culprits, and I know people hate to hear it,

Might be GMO wheat.

But it will take time to figure it out.

In the meantime, to all those who think you are, but have no actual diagnosis, those of us with it (and I know you share the sentiment) thank you. I can get my gluten free soy

[pnwmom]

92. Yup. If there are many people on the "bandwagon" (which I doubt

since the diet's a pain), I am grateful. There's better labeling and there are more products available because there are more people identifying as gluten-sensitive or gluten-intolerant.

[nadinbrzezinski]

93. You like Mexican Food? A lot of it is gluten free

Same for Thai food.

Now good old fashioned Jewish Eastern European fare, not so much.

[pnwmom]

95. Yes, I do. The only problem with those restaurants sometimes

is whether the serving staff and the chef understands the issue.

And in my favorite Mexican restaurant -- which has a gluten-free sub-menu -- I still have to be careful. They cook the corn chips in oil that is contaminated, and sometimes the waiters forget to mention this.

[nadinbrzezinski]

97. I mostly make this stuff at home

We eat a lot of Mexican and Thai food. I might make curry tonight actually.

The rice noodles are great with a good curry.

I cook a lot.

[WinkyDink]

88. My beloved cousin died of celiac disease last year, aged sixty. He was like a wraith in his casket.

He tried to be vigilant about gluten, but he told me he once got very ill and didn't know why. Turns out gluten was in the gel cover of one of his pills.

[pnwmom]

94. I'm so sorry about your cousin. It's almost impossible to get that info from generic manufacturers.

When I call the drug companies they typically claim that they don't know, because they "can't control" what inactive ingredients their suppliers use.

OF COURSE THEY COULD, IF THEY WANTED TO. But instead, they leave the door open to using whatever filler is cheapest at the time.

So I'm stuck with brand names most of the time, because the original formulations almost never use wheat.

[WinkyDink]

142. Thank you; I appreciate your words. In the aftermath, I learned that celiac disease can lead to

cancer.

I didn't know that about wheat and brand-name drugs. Good to know.

[pnwmom]

144. There's a higher risk of cancer and a host of auto-immune diseases.

If there are adult children and grandchildren involved, they should be tested. Unfortunately, a negative test only means the person is negative right now. A person could still have a positive test in the future.

[Enthusiast]

139. I'm 60 and if I didn't ditch my generic BP meds

I might have died by now. Still might.

Once you are diagnosed with celiac disease the medical testing gravy train is over. For this reason many doctors delay the diagnosis as long as possible - even when it is perfectly obvious.

[WinkyDink]

143. How awful for you! Grrrr...it's stuff like this that makes my blood boil when I read jingoistic non-

sense.

[Enthusiast]

145. Thank you.

I only wish the FDA would mandate that all drug bonding agents be free of gluten.

I mean it isn't as if it would even cost the manufacturers significantly more.

Unfortunately the FDA appears to be going in the direction of even less oversight.

Obviously these anti-regulation Republicans don't have celiac disease.

[Vashta Nerada]

100. I agree with the author that most people who claim they are gluten intolerant

are not gluten intolerant. It's one of those fad things. I don't know why anyone would think they're gluten intolerant unless, like the author points out, they're starved for attention.

[nadinbrzezinski]

103. So you agree with ignorant woo

[Vashta Nerada]

106. Ignorant woo would be believing you have a gluten intolerance

but never confirm it with a doctor. It's self-diagnosing. Unfortunately I see it all too often.

[nadinbrzezinski]

109. Ignorant woo is believing that it is not real or that's extremely rare

By the way my dear mine was confirmed by serologic examination, it is responsive to diet so we decided against the very real torture the biopsy would have been. Meaning six weeks of gluten rich diet before the test

[Vashta Nerada]

111. Um, that's not the definition of woo.

Woo is believing in alternative healing over science, like believing a mixture of natural ingredients can cure cancer. Or believing chiropractors over real medical doctors.

[nadinbrzezinski]

112. And Mordord's claim against scientific evidence to the contrary

That it is extremely rare.

We are actually finding out it's far more common. Part of it is increased diagnosis...the other is actually a mystery.

By the way "wheat belly" is just as much woo as this editorial

[Vashta Nerada]

113. You sure are confrontational.

I don't belittle those who have an actual disease, one that was diagnosed by a trained professional (ie a doctor). I belittle those who have no professional training and self-diagnose with having a disease they don't actually have.

[nadinbrzezinski]

119. I belittle...that is so revealing

I actually known people do this self diagnosis because we have the bestest system in the world with the best access to doctors in the history of humanity. and yes, I am confrontational, you betcha, because articles like this lead to attitudes like yours...

Free clue, my brother is a GI specialist, and what he has to say about this is that when he trained as a doc back in the dark ages, things like celiac and wheat intolerance, and yes Chrons, were almost unheard off. Diagnosis of all these three is way up. He is up there in nationally recognized specialists in these syndromes...so I guess he does have a smidgen of a clue.

Now you could read the article posted bellow by pwonn on this trend from the College of Family Physicians as well...and actually be educated on this...or take the word of this charlatan.

[Vashta Nerada]

132. Individuals who have no training in the medical field have no business self-diagnosing.

But what do I know? Websites like webmd have made us all medical experts.

[nadinbrzezinski]

133. The take from my doctor

Is that webmd is a good place for people to get some information and use it for discussion with their physicians. It makes for good patient education, but what would she know? After all, she is a medical provider and shit.

You have a problem with patients having access to info? Is that it? Weird.

But you took the OP, from a well known charlatan at face value...we call that confirmation bias.

[Vashta Nerada]

135. Anecdotes are meaningless to me.

I can make up a story about my doctor and pass it off as truth online also.

[nadinbrzezinski]

136. Is this anecdote as well?

Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy (Celiac Disease): More Common Than You Think

DAVID A. NELSEN, JR., M.D., M.S., University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
Am Fam Physician. 2002 Dec 15;66(12):2259-2266.

Patient Information Handout

Gluten-sensitive enteropathy or, as it is more commonly called, celiac disease, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the small intestine that is precipitated by the ingestion of gluten, a component of wheat protein, in genetically susceptible persons. Exclusion of dietary gluten results in healing of the mucosa, resolution of the malabsorptive state, and reversal of most, if not all, effects of celiac disease. Recent studies in the United States suggest that the prevalence of celiac disease is approximately one case per 250 persons. Gluten-sensitive enteropathy commonly manifests as “silent” celiac disease (i.e., minimal or no symptoms). Serologic tests for antibodies against endomysium, transglutaminase, and gliadin identify most patients with the disease. Serologic testing should be considered in patients who are at increased genetic risk for gluten-sensitive enteropathy (i.e., family history of celiac disease or personal history of type I diabetes) and in patients who have chronic diarrhea, unexplained anemia, chronic fatigue, or unexplained weight loss. Early diagnosis and management are important to forestall serious consequences of malabsorption, such as osteoporosis and anemia.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/1215/p2259.html

It refutes the OP. it comes from the College of Family Physitians. It is not WebMD...it is part of physitian education.

But we are spinning our wheels here. This is so rare...that it almost does not exist and patients are just imagining it...and the OP is correct.

I could even go find actual papers from the American College of Gastroenterology. Perhaps Annals of Internal Medicine.

But nah... They are wrong and the OP editorial is correct. It is not going up in diagnosis either and drug companies (It is not treated with drugs but what would I know?) are making a bundle.

Have a good day.

(I loved how you tried to redirect by the way...and yes, I am confrontational when people spread woo)

[nadinbrzezinski]

137. I guess this is anecdote too

SummaryCeliac disease, an immune reaction to eating the protein gluten, is far more than an occasional tummy upset. Mayo Clinic research suggests the disease is becoming a major public health issue. Although the cause is unknown, celiac disease is four times more common now than 60 years ago, and affects about one in 100 people. According to Mayo studies, undiagnosed celiac disease can quadruple the risk of death. Mayo researchers are working to discover the causes and improve diagnosis. Their efforts have been aided by a 1950s streptococcus outbreak and a pizza delivery truck.

http://www.mayo.edu/research/discoverys-edge/celiac-disease-rise

[nadinbrzezinski]

138. Increasing Incidence of Celiac Disease in a North American Population

Abstract
OBJECTIVES:

The prevalence of celiac disease (CD) varies greatly, potentially because of incomplete ascertainment of cases and small study samples with limited statistical power. Previous reports indicate that the incidence of CD is increasing. We examined the prevalence of CD in a well-defined US county.

METHODS:

Population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA. Using the infrastructure of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, medical, histopathology, and CD serology records were used to identify all new cases of CD in Olmsted County since 2000. Age- and sex-specific and adjusted (to the US white 2000 population) incidence rates for CD were estimated. Clinical presentation at diagnosis was also assessed.

RESULTS:

Between 2000 and 2010, 249 individuals (157 female or 63%, median age 37.9 years) were diagnosed with CD in Olmsted County. The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence of CD in the study period was 17.4 (95% confidence interval (CI)=15.2–19.6) per 100,000 person-years, increasing from 11.1 (95% CI=6.8–15.5) in 2000–2001 to 17.3 (95% CI=13.3–21.3) in 2008–2010. The temporal trend in incidence rates was modeled as a two-slope pattern, with the incidence leveling off after 2004. Based on the two classic CD symptoms of diarrhea and weight loss, the relative frequency of classical CD among incident cases decreased over time between 2000 and 2010 (P=0.044).

CONCLUSIONS:

The incidence of CD has continued to increase in the past decade in a North-American population.

http://www.nature.com/ajg/journal/v108/n5/full/ajg201360a.html

Is this anecdotal enough for you?

[pnwmom]

104. Is that just your uninformed position, or can you point to studies backing you up?

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/1215/p2259.html

From the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy (Celiac Disease): More Common Than You Think

SILENT CELIAC DISEASE
A number of investigators believe that clinically apparent gluten-sensitive enteropathy represents the “tip of the iceberg” of the overall disease burden.7 Patients who were detected in the seroprevalence studies8–11 were asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic (so-called “silent” celiac disease).

Family physicians should consider serologic testing in patients with the following: family history of celiac disease, personal history of thyroid disease or type I diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, anemia (especially iron deficiency), chronic diarrhea, chronic fatigue, unexplained weight loss, short stature, epilepsy, infertility,18 or unexplained elevation of transaminase levels. Asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic patients are still at risk for complications of celiac disease.

[SalviaBlue]

151. Have you read any of the responses on this thread?

You might learn "why anyone would think they're gluten intolerant."

Way to make yourself welcome here... insult fellow posters who have explained what wheat/gluten does to them.

[Vashta Nerada]

152. I know what it does.

I was talking about people who self-diagnose as gluten intolerant without consulting a medical doctor.

Reading comprehension, people.

[SalviaBlue]

155. Only a medical dr can determine?

Authority problem?

[Just Saying]

107. There are definitely a lot of people who self-diagnose this

And other ailments. There's a whole industry that puts ads on TV for drugs with commercials that could be talking about anyone. "Ever feel awkward in social situations?" We'll duh! Hasn't everyone? But we all don't need drug intervention to deal with occasional bouts of shyness. Obviously there are people with severe social anxiety but those commercials belittle the seriousness of their situation.

That being said, food allergies are very serious. I have a son who is allergic to milk among other things and people really don't understand what that means. Intolerance and allergy are 2 different things. People will ask me if he can have cheese or butter. Uh, no he can't. Nor can he take lactaid and yes, it will bother him even in a small amount. His reaction to any dairy will likey be more than a tummy ache.

Some people have a bad attitude when it comes to dealing with people with allergies. We're not making it up nor are we trying to inconvenience anyone else. Its like I'm sorry your son can't enjoy his peanut butter sandwich at school but mine can't ever have one and could go into anaphylactic shock if your son's food touches his. I don't mind if people bring in snacks that my son can't have or when they have pizza parties he can't indulge in, but if you give me a heads up, I'll make sure he has a suitable substitute. I'm thankful that my son does attend a school where people have been nice about it and over the years have become aware of what he can have and try to include him.

Sometimes health problems are very real and while it's best to see a doctor, we shouldn't belittle what others may be dealing with.

[nadinbrzezinski]

110. So exactly what drugs do you take for this condition?

For the life of me, I have missed the adds. Can you point me in the right direction so I can ask my doc?

[Just Saying]

114. These were awhile back

And I don't recall the name, but it was a drug to treat social anxiety disorder. It sticks in my mind because several of the "Do you ever feel..." questions were things that most people would experience. Probably Paxil or Zoloft.

I'm not trying to say these disorders don't exist or that some people may not need medication for anxiety, but the idea of self-diagnosing such things from television commercials is troubling. And I think we're over medicated in America. A pill is not always the answer even if a pharmasutical company says it is.

[nadinbrzezinski]

115. You are confusing Celiacs, and wheat intolerance, both treated with diet

With RLS? That be restless Leg syndrome.

[Just Saying]

122. No

I'm not confusing them. The article discussed people self-diagnosing wheat intolerance and I was using those commercials as an example of how people are being encouraged to self-diagnose any number of ailments.

[nadinbrzezinski]

123. People are self diagnosing due to lack of good access to medical care

Serious.

I find the adds disgusting, but I am being as serious as a heart attack. The serology for the antibodies runs over 500 bucks, and it is by the way, incidentally, just as expensive in Mexico. We considered doing it down there since it was just a week into the diet.

It would have been more definite.

But part of this self diagnosis is lack of good medical access.

[olddots]

128. Mose Allison said it best

" I don't worry about a thing cause I know nothings gonna work out right "

[Blue_In_AK]

147. I met him once, a long, long time ago.

Nice guy.

[Warren DeMontague]

153. It's all about selling books to nervous americans who think a $14.95 "system" will solve everything.

I find it very hard to believe that all of a sudden the number of "gluten intolerant" individuals has gone through the roof.