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PubMed abstracts for UC dairy/gluten food-trigger digest 003

Saved 23 records from NCBI E-utilities on 2026-06-17.

PMID 39125433 — Effects of Milk and Dairy on the Risk and Course of Inflammatory Bowel Disease versus Patients’ Dietary Beliefs and Practices: A Systematic Review.

The role of the environment in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is undisputed, especially in light of numerous epidemiological data showing the increasing prevalence of IBD worldwide. Although no specific environmental factors have been identified, the diet has received the most attention as a potential modifier of the onset and course of IBD and as a therapeutic intervention. The Westernization of the diet is repeatedly cited as a crucial aspect of the change in IBD prevalence, but data on the impact of diet on the course of IBD are still limited and the effectiveness of dietary interventions remains uncertain. Milk remains one of the most discussed dietary agents in IBD. We performed a systematic review of the literature published between January 2010 and March 2024 on three databases, Pubmed, Web of Knowledge, and Embase, to assess the impact of milk and dairy products on the risk and course of IBD, as well as patients’ dietary beliefs and practices. We included 37 original studies in our review. There is no clear evidence that milk and dairy products influence the incidence and course of IBD. The studies that assess this issue are characterized by great heterogeneity. Milk and dairy are among the most commonly excluded foods by patients with IBD, which may have clinical implications.

PMID 33003341 — Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Are Symptoms and Diet Linked?

New Zealand (NZ) has one of the world’s highest incidence rates of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a group of chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with IBD often believe certain foods influence their disease symptoms and consequently may alter their diet considerably. The objective of this study was to determine foods, additives, and cooking methods (dietary elements) that NZ IBD patients identify in the onset, exacerbation, or reduction of their symptoms. A total of 233 participants completed a self-administered questionnaire concerning symptom behaviour in association with 142 dietary elements. Symptom onset and symptom exacerbation were associated with dietary elements by 55% (128) and 70% (164) of all IBD participants, respectively. Fruit and vegetables were most frequently identified, with dairy products, gluten-containing bread, and foods with a high fat content also considered deleterious. Of all IBD participants, 35% (82) associated symptom reduction with dietary elements. The identified foods were typically low in fibre, saturated fatty acids, and easily digestible. No statistically significant differences were seen between the type or number of dietary elements and disease subtype or recent disease activity. The association between diet and symptoms in patients with IBD and the mechanism(s) involved warrant further research and may lead to the development of IBD specific dietary guidelines.

PMID 25512686 — Evaluation of dairy allergy among ulcerative colitis patients.

The intestine is the largest mucosal organ of the body and also the first line immune homeostasis. Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD is divided into ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. One of the problems that can occur with UC is dietary allergy to some foods. This study aimed to evaluated the dairy allergy among patients with ulcerative colitis. This study is a Case - control study, that studied 72 patients with Ulcerative Colitis, after recording history of the disease, colonoscopy and confirmed by biopsy and 72 person without history of colitis. In this study, in order to investigate of food allergy, used of the EUROMMUM kit with an international code number DP3420-1601-11E. We used chi-square and Monte Carlo method for analysis of data. Among UC patients, 30.6% mild, 52.8% moderate and 16.6% of cases were in sever stage. 9.7% of them reported a history of abdominal surgery due to disease. According to the chi-square and Monte Carlo methods, dairy allergy (including: cow milk, cow milk UHT and casein) in UC group was significant (P=0.00). This study indicated that there is significant relationship between UC and cow milk, cow milk UHT and casein. UC patients who are allergic to dairy products and the use of dairy products can increase the severity of UC.

PMID 33806061 — Food and Food Groups in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): The Design of the Groningen Anti-Inflammatory Diet (GrAID).

Diet plays a pivotal role in the onset and course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients are keen to know what to eat to reduce symptoms and flares, but dietary guidelines are lacking. To advice patients, an overview of the current evidence on food (group) level is needed. This narrative review studies the effects of food (groups) on the onset and course of IBD and if not available the effects in healthy subjects or animal and in vitro IBD models. Based on this evidence the Groningen anti-inflammatory diet (GrAID) was designed and compared on food (group) level to other existing IBD diets. Although on several foods conflicting results were found, this review provides patients a good overview. Based on this evidence, the GrAID consists of lean meat, eggs, fish, plain dairy (such as milk, yoghurt, kefir and hard cheeses), fruit, vegetables, legumes, wheat, coffee, tea and honey. Red meat, other dairy products and sugar should be limited. Canned and processed foods, alcohol and sweetened beverages should be avoided. This comprehensive review focuses on anti-inflammatory properties of foods providing IBD patients with the best evidence on which foods they should eat or avoid to reduce flares. This was used to design the GrAID.

PMID 36102432 — IS DAIRY FOODS RESTRICTION MANDATORY FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE PATIENTS: A MULTINATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

The role of dairy foods in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been controversial and it is debatable if patients with IBD should avoid milk and dairy products or not, as well as the relationship between these foods and symptoms among those population. This multi centric cross-sectional study designed to evaluate if it is really necessary to deprive IBD patients from consumption of dairy foods. A multicenter study with 12 gastroenterology referral centers in four countries was designed to evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms after consumption of dairy foods from all outpatients with IBD during 6 months and to compare patients treated at the same centers without IBD (non IBD cases). Overall 1888 cases included (872 IBD patients and 1016 non IBD cases). 56.6% of participants were female with average age of 40.1 years. Racially 79.8% participants were Caucasians and originally they were citizens of 10 countries. Relative prevalence of IBD was higher in Africans and Indians and the most frequent prevalence of dairy foods intolerance was seen in Asians. Among IBD patients, 571 cases diagnosed as ulcerative colitis and 189 participants as Crohn’s disease. Average duration of diagnosis as IBD was 6.8 years (from 2 months to 35 years). The most prevalent GI symptoms after consumption of all the dairy foods were bloating and abdominal pain. Totally, intolerance of dairy foods and lactase deficiency was more prevalent among IBD patients in comparison with non IBD cases (65.5% vs 46.1%, P=0.0001). But the rate of GI complains among IBD patients who had not any family history of lactase deficiency, history of food sensitivity or both were 59.91%, 52.87% & 50.33% respectively and similar to non IBD cases (P=0.68, 0.98 & 0.99 respectively). The rate of dairy foods intolerance among IBD patients without family history of lactase deficiency or history of food sensitivity is similar to non IBD cases and probably there is no reason to deprive them from this important source of dietary calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients.

PMID 27120568 — Dairy Products, Dietary Calcium, and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results From a European Prospective Cohort Investigation.

Dairy products may be involved in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease by modulating gut microbiota and immune responses, but data from epidemiological studies examining this relationship are limited. We investigated the association between prediagnostic intake of these foods and dietary calcium, and the subsequent development of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). In total, 401,326 participants were enrolled in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. At recruitment, consumption of total and specific dairy products (milk, yogurt, and cheese) and dietary calcium was measured using validated food frequency questionnaires. Cases developing incident CD (n = 110) or UC (n = 244) during follow-up were matched with 4 controls. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for total energy intake and smoking. Compared with the lowest quartile, the ORs for the highest quartile of total dairy products and dietary calcium intake were 0.61 (95% CI, 0.32-1.19, p trend = 0.19) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.28-1.42, p trend = 0.23) for CD, and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.50-1.30, p trend = 0.40) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.49-1.34, p trend = 0.60) for UC, respectively. Compared with nonconsumers, individuals consuming milk had significantly reduced odds of CD (OR 0.30, 95% CI, 0.13-0.65) and nonsignificantly reduced odds of UC (OR 0.85, 95% CI, 0.49-1.47). Milk consumption may be associated with a decreased risk of developing CD, although a clear dose-response relationship was not established. Further studies are warranted to confirm this possible protective effect.

PMID 5468136 — Incidence and clinical significance of lactose malabsorption in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

The incidence of lactose malabsorption was investigated in 85 patients with ulcerative colitis and 71 patients with Crohn’s disease by means of lactose tolerance tests and disaccharidase determinations in small intestinal mucosa. Eight patients with ulcerative colitis (9%) and four with Crohn’s disease (6%) had lactose malabsorption. A control group displayed a similar incidence. It is concluded that lactose malabsorption is not particularly common in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. If it is present, its aetiology seems to be unrelated to the intestinal disease. Transitional lactose malabsorption was detected in two cases during a relapse of ulcerative colitis. Institution of a lactose-free (or lactose-poor) diet was an important supporting measure in seven patients who were unaware of their milk intolerance, in particular in two with ileostomy. Therefore, it is recommended that a lactose tolerance test should always be performed in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.Twenty-one patients with ulcerative colitis and nine with Crohn’s disease, none of whom had lactose malabsorption, were placed on milk-free diets. A beneficial effect was noticed in five of the patients with ulcerative colitis, and in three of those with Crohn’s disease. The mechanism is unknown. Evidence is presented that milk allergy is not responsible for the beneficial effect of a lactosefree diet in patients with associated lactose malabsorption.

PMID 24865778 — Prevalence of a gluten-free diet and improvement of clinical symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Maintaining a gluten-free diet (GFD) without an underlying diagnosis of celiac disease has enjoyed widespread acceptance in the Unites States. We performed a cross-sectional study using a GFD questionnaire in 1647 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) participating in the CCFA Partners longitudinal Internet-based cohort. A diagnosis of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity were reported by 10 (0.6%) and 81 (4.9%) respondents, respectively. Three hundred fourteen (19.1%) participants reported having previously tried a GFD and 135 (8.2%) reported current use of GFD. Overall 65.6% of all patients, who attempted a GFD, described an improvement of their gastrointestinal symptoms and 38.3% reported fewer or less severe IBD flares. In patients currently attempting a GFD, excellent adherence was associated with significant improvement of fatigue (P < 0.03). In this large group of patients with IBD, a substantial number had attempted a GFD, of whom the majority had some form of improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms. Testing a GFD in clinical practice in patients with significant intestinal symptoms, which are not solely explained by the degree of intestinal inflammation, has the potential to be a safe and highly efficient therapeutic approach. Further prospective studies into mechanisms of gluten sensitivity in IBD are warranted.

PMID 38714473 — Short-term effect of gluten-free diet on disease severity, quality of life, and inflammatory markers among patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis: A triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Diet is an important underlying factor in ulcerative colitis (UC) disease. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on disease severity, quality of life, and inflammatory markers in patients with UC. In this triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, we evaluated the effect of a GFD on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), fecal calprotectin, disease severity, and quality of life in patients with mild to moderate UC. Patients’ quality of life and severity of symptoms were evaluated using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) and Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI), respectively. Patients received this regimen for six weeks and were evaluated before and after the intervention. The mean age of patients (n = 26) was 39.31 years (standard deviation = 9.34). In both study groups, the mean ESR, CRP, IBDQ, and SCCAI showed no statistically significant improvement with the dietary intervention. Fecal calprotectin was increased in both groups without statistical significance. We could not find any significant effect of GFD on inflammatory markers, quality of life, and disease severity among patients with mild to moderate UC. It is too early to suggest the gluten-free diet as a safe and beneficial regimen for UC patients. There is a need for further investigations with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups as clinical trials and cohort studies to obtain more reliable results.

PMID 32558265 — Gluten-Free Diet in IBD: Time for a Recommendation?

Patients and providers alike are highly interested in identifying potentially useful dietary interventions in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). This review examines the clinical associations of celiac disease (CeD), non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and IBD with a focus on available data of the therapeutic efficacy of gluten-free diet (GFD) or low-gluten-containing diets in the therapy of IBD. There is a strong association between CeD and microscopic colitis, but the prevalence of CeD among IBD patients is similar to that of the general population. Interestingly, in cross-sectional studies nearly one-third of IBD patients report a diagnosis of NCGS, and many follow a GFD. Although animal studies have shown that gluten ingestion may promote intestinal inflammation and increase intestinal permeability, there have been no prospective studies evaluating the role of a GFD in the induction and maintenance of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Several cross-sectional reports suggest that a GFD may improve symptoms in IBD patients, but due to a lack of high-quality prospective clinical studies, current data do not support the universal use of a GFD in IBD.

PMID 29216767 — Prevalence and factors associated with gluten sensitivity in inflammatory bowel disease.

Gluten sensitivity (GS) arises with celiac disease and has also been found in non-celiac disorders, although its characteristics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are unclear. This study evaluated the prevalence of GS and factors associated with GS in IBD. Adult IBD patients at a tertiary-care medical center completed a survey of their demographics, medical history, family history, social history and symptoms. Data on IBD characteristics were abstracted from the medical records. Descriptive analyses estimated the prevalence of GS. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between GS and patient or disease factors. Of 102 IBD patients (55 Crohn’s disease [CD], 46 ulcerative colitis [UC] and 3 IBD-unclassified), GS was reported in 23.6 and 27.3% of CD and UC patients, respectively. Common symptoms included fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating and hematochezia. There was no difference in these symptoms when comparing patients with and without GS. When evaluating IBD-related factors, GS was associated with having had a recent flare (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-34.1), stenotic disease in CD (aOR 4.7; 95% CI 1.1-20.2) and dermatologic manifestations (aOR 5.5; 95% CI 1.2-24.1). GS was common in IBD and associated with having had a recent flare. GS may be transient for some patients, whereby dietary recommendations during and after a flare could focus on the avoidance of specific food triggers with possible reintroduction of these foods over time. This study prompts further prospective investigation into the temporal evolution of GS in IBD.

PMID 31832627 — An Autoimmune Protocol Diet Improves Patient-Reported Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Prior studies suggest dietary modification may improve clinical response or remission rates in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our aim was to examine whether an autoimmune protocol diet improves quality of life in patients with active Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We conducted an uncontrolled clinical trial of the autoimmune protocol diet in adult patients with active IBD (Harvey-Bradshaw Index ≥ 5 for CD or partial Mayo score ≥ 3 for UC, and erosions/ulcers on endoscopy and/or elevated fecal calprotectin). The dietary intervention consisted of a 6-week elimination phase, followed by a 5-week maintenance phase. Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) was completed at baseline, and weeks 3, 6, 9, and 11. The final cohort included 6 UC and 9 CD participants. Mean SIBDQ score improved significantly from baseline (46.5) to weeks 3 (54.0, P = 0.02), 6 (53.3, P = 0.02), 9 (62.0, P = 0.03), and 11 (60.5, P = 0.05). Among participants completing all 5 surveys, mean SIBDQ increased from 46.5 to 61.5 by week 11 (P = 0.03). By week 3, participants experienced significant improvements in bowel movement frequency (36%, P = 0.04), stress (28%, P = 0.01), and ability to perform leisure/sport activities (29%, P = 0.02). Effects were not significantly different between CD and UC participants. Dietary modification can improve quality of life as early as week 3 in patients with active IBD. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to examine dietary interventions in IBD.

PMID 28244679 — Use of the low-FODMAP diet in inflammatory bowel disease.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms are not uncommon in patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While gluten-free diet is applied by patients, there are no reported interventional studies. The low-FODMAP diet, on the other hand, has efficacy similar to that seen in patients with IBS in three unblinded or observational studies of IBD cohorts who had well-controlled inflammatory disease and in one small randomized cross-over study. FODMAP intake by patients with IBD is not elevated, and, in one study, fructan intakes were lower in patients with Crohn’s disease than in controls. There is no clear relationship between the level of FODMAP intake and intestinal inflammation. The risk of compromising nutritional status with a restrictive diet must be seriously considered especially as under-nutrition is already common in this patient population. The effects of FODMAPs on the gut microbiota of patients with Crohn’s disease mimic that in IBS, with a balance between prebiosis from the addition of FODMAPs and loss of prebiosis from their reduction. As undernutrition is common in IBD, the use of restrictive diets should be supervised by a dietitian. Thus, low-FODMAP diet is a viable option for IBS-like symptoms but should be carefully supervised to mitigate risk.

PMID 31316781 — Vegetarian or gluten-free diets in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are associated with lower psychological well-being and a different gut microbiota, but no beneficial effects on the course of the disease.

Many inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients follow a restrictive diet due to perceived positive effects on their symptoms. We assessed the prevalence of vegetarian (VD) and gluten-free diets (GFDs) in IBD patients, the reasons for following such a diet, and whether nutrition has an impact on disease activity and microbiota composition. We included 1254 patients from the Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study with prospective acquisition of clinical data and psychosocial, disease-related and lifestyle factors between 2006 and 2015. Dietary habits were assessed through a self-report questionnaire. In 92 patients, we analysed intestinal mucosa-associated microbial composition using high-throughput sequencing. Overall, 4.1% (n = 52) of the patients reported following a VD and 4.7% (n = 54) a GFD. No differences regarding disease activity, fistula, hospitalization or surgery rates were observed. Patients on a VD or GFD had significantly higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Furthermore, GFD patients had significantly higher anxiety and depression symptom levels. The gut microbiota composition in IBD patients following a VD or GFD was significantly different compared to that of omnivores. Although we did not identify a relevant impact of a specific diet on the course of the disease, there was a significant association with lower psychological well-being in VD and GFD patients.

PMID 5087069 — Circulating antibodies to cow’s milk proteins in ulcerative colitis.

Sera from patients with ulcerative colitis (51), Crohn’s disease (30), hypolactasia (13), untreated adult coeliac disease (11), irritable colon syndrome (24), and sera from 38 healthy control subjects were tested for antibodies to the principal cow’s milk proteins-casein, alpha-lactalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin. The red-cell-linked antigen-antiglobulin reaction was used to determine the titres of direct agglutinating antibodies and IgA and IgG incomplete antibodies. Apart from patients with coeliac disease, direct agglutinating antibodies were found infrequently and then in low titres. Approximately 50% of subjects had low titres of IgA and IgG antibodies. However, the titres found in sera from patients with ulcerative colitis did not differ from those found in the control subjects or in patients with Crohn’s disease, hypolactasia, or irritable colon syndrome. Patients with untreated coeliac disease frequently had high antibody titres to the milk proteins. In all subjects tested, incomplete antibodies of IgA or IgG immunoglobulin class occurred with equal frequency. The frequent occurrence in adults of low titres of antibodies to the milk proteins may be due to continued absorption of minute amounts of protein. Absorption of allergens may be facilitated by mucosal damage, such as that of coeliac disease, with stimulation of antibody production. At the present time, however, there is little evidence to suggest that milk allergy is a factor in the aetiology of ulcerative colitis.

PMID 4646293 — Reaginic hypersensitivity in ulcerative colitis.

Reaginic hypersensitivity in ulcerative colitis has been investigated in respect of a hypersensitivity to the cow’s milk proteins and the frequency of atopic asthma, hay fever, and eczema. Intradermal tests were frequently positive, especially to casein, but the results did not differ from those found in healthy individuals and in groups of patients with Crohn’s disease, hypolactasia, and the irritable colon syndrome. No circulating IgE-specific antibodies to the milk proteins were found. An increased frequency of atopic diseases was found in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis (15.7%) and Crohn’s disease (13.3%) compared with the findings in a control group (1.2%). It is concluded that, if an allergy to milk proteins is a factor in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis, it is not mediated by reaginic antibodies. It is possible, however, that the frequent occurrence of atopy indicates a susceptibility to develop reaginic responses even though this mechanism does not apply to the milk proteins.

PMID 26006779 — Celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity and inflammatory bowel disease.

Celiac disease (CD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease (CrD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic inflammatory condition of the gastro-intestinal tract. The prevalence of IBD in celiac patients has been reported as 5-10 times higher than in the general population. The possibility of the presence of CD in IBD should be considered in IBD patients with long-term iron deficiency anemia (IDA) not responsive to iron supplementation. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is characterized by intestinal and extra intestinal symptoms due to the ingestion of gluten-containing food in subject without CD and/or wheat allergy. Patients with Crohn’s disease and SR-NCGS were more significantly affected by joint pains compared to UC patients (50% versus 11.1%). In Crohn’s patients, a higher percentage of fatigue (50% versus 38.9%) and headache (27.3% versus 22.2%) was evident. For the association between NCGS and IBD new studies are warranted and, at this moment, a gluten free diet (GFD) may be useful more in CrD than in UC.

PMID 30061187 — What’s in a name? ‘Non-coeliac gluten or wheat sensitivity’: controversies and mechanisms related to wheat and gluten causing gastrointestinal symptoms or disease.

No abstract returned.

PMID 41303655 — Non-Coeliac Wheat Sensitivity: Symptoms in Search of a Mechanism, or a Distinct Well-Defined Clinical Entity? A Narrative Review.

Non-coeliac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) is characterised by gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms following gluten/wheat ingestion in individuals without coeliac disease or wheat allergy but remains controversial due to symptom overlap with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive, critical analysis of NCWS as a clinical and biological entity, examining the evidence for its distinction from related disorders. While self-reported rates are high (often >10%) in the general population, rigorous double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge (DBPCC) studies confirm the diagnosis in only a minority of cases (typically <30%). The clinical presentation is heterogeneous, combining IBS-like symptoms with systemic complaints such as “brain fog,” headaches, and fatigue. The pathophysiology is distinct from coeliac disease, involving innate immune activation, altered intestinal barrier function, and gut dysbiosis. Non-gluten wheat components, particularly fructans and amylase-trypsin inhibitors, are implicated as potential triggers. Diagnosis is challenging, requiring the exclusion of other disorders and adherence to complex dietary challenge protocols such as the Salerno Experts’ Criteria, which are impractical for routine clinical use. The search for validated biomarkers is a key research area and investigated candidates include serological markers such as IgG anti-gliadin antibodies, inflammatory markers such as faecal calprotectin, and proteins related to intestinal permeability such as zonulin, but results have been conflicting and require further validation. Management primarily involves elimination of wheat and gluten from the diet, although a low-FODMAP diet has also proven effective as an adjunctive treatment. In conclusion, NCWS is a clinical entity whose study and management are critically hampered by the absence of validated diagnostic criteria and biomarkers. Progress requires methodologically rigorous DBPCC trials to elucidate its mechanisms and develop reliable diagnostic tools.

PMID 31705373 — The Gluten-Free Diet: Use in Digestive Disease Management.

Gluten is a commonly ingested polymeric protein found in wheat, barley, and rye that has gained recent notoriety because of its relationship to disease and health. Avoidance of gluten is appropriate in patients with a diagnosed gluten-related disorder and may have treatment implications in other diseases of the digestive tract. This review highlights current knowledge of gluten related disorders and the use of a gluten-free diet in gastrointestinal disease management. Gluten-free diets should be used in patients with a diagnosed gluten-related disorder including celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and wheat-sensitive eosinophilic esophagitis. Use of this diet in management of other digestive conditions including gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease is controversial and not currently supported by the literature. This review provides a framework for classifying gluten-related disorders in terms of pathogenesis, understanding the literature that supports dietary avoidance in modulation of gastrointestinal disease, and identifies limitations of dietary restriction in patients.

PMID 25925923 — Motility alterations in celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Regulation of gut motility is complex and involves neuromuscular, immune and environmental mechanisms. It is well established that patients with celiac disease (CD) often display gut dysmotility. Studies have shown the presence of disturbed esophageal motility, altered gastric emptying, and dysmotility of the small intestine, gallbladder and colon in untreated CD. Most of these motor abnormalities resolve after a strict gluten-free diet, suggesting that mechanisms related to the inflammatory condition and disease process are responsible for the motor dysfunction. Motility abnormalities are also a hallmark of functional bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), where it has been proposed as underlying mechanism for symptom generation (diarrhea, constipation, bloating). Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a poorly defined entity, mostly self-diagnosed, that presents clinically with IBS symptoms in the absence of specific celiac markers. Patients with NCGS are believed to react symptomatically to wheat components, and some studies have proposed the presence of low-grade inflammation in these patients. There is little information regarding the functional characterization of these patients before and after a gluten-free diet. A study suggested the presence of altered gastrointestinal transit in NCGS patients who also have a high prevalence of nonspecific anti-gliadin antibodies. Results of an ongoing clinical study in NCGS patients with positive anti-gliadin antibodies before and after a gluten-free diet will be discussed. Elucidating the mechanisms for symptom generation in NCGS patients is important to find new therapeutic alternatives to the burden of imposing a strict gluten-free diet in patients who do not have CD.

PMID 24369326 — Non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Is it in the gluten or the grain?

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the small intestine caused by sensitivity to dietary gluten and related proteins in genetically predisposed individuals. Over the past several years, the concept of non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) has gained significant interest from the scientific community and mass media and the number of individuals embracing a gluten-free diet is rapidly growing. This condition is characterized by gastrointestinal or extraintestinal symptoms that respond to gluten withdrawal without evidence for underlying celiac disease or wheat allergy. Symptoms display significant overlap with the irritable bowel syndrome. Many important factors regarding this relatively novel condition remain to be elucidated; no discriminative markers to support a diagnosis of gluten sensitivity have been identified yet and its pathogenesis remains obscure. Here we review the current knowledge on NCGS, and outline potential pathogenic pathways of different gluten related disorders in order to gain clues about the pathophysiology of this novel condition.

PMID 29662290 — Extra-intestinal manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity: An expanding paradigm.

Non celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a syndrome characterized by a cohort of symptoms related to the ingestion of gluten-containing food in subjects who are not affected by celiac disease (CD) or wheat allergy. The possibility of systemic manifestations in this condition has been suggested by some reports. In most cases they are characterized by vague symptoms such as ‘foggy mind’, headache, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, leg or arm numbness even if more specific complaints have been described. NCGS has an immune-related background. Indeed there is a strong evidence that a selective activation of innate immunity may be the trigger for NCGS inflammatory response. The most commonly autoimmune disorders associated to NCGS are Hashimoto thyroiditis, dermatitis herpetiformis, psoriasis and rheumatologic diseases. The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported; it could be a characteristic feature that could help the diagnosis and be simultaneously managed. A possible neurological involvement has been underlined by NCGS association with gluten ataxia, gluten neuropathy and gluten encephalopathy. NCGS patients may show even psychiatric diseases such as depression, anxiety and psychosis. Finally, a link with functional disorders (irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia) is a topic under discussion. In conclusion, the novelty of this matter has generated an expansion of literature data with the unavoidable consequence that some reports are often based on low levels of evidence. Therefore, only studies performed on large samples with the inclusion of control groups will be able to clearly establish whether the large information from the literature regarding extra-intestinal NCGS manifestations could be supported by evidence-based agreements.

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