From the Guidelines
A gluten-free diet is highly beneficial for intestinal health in patients with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Key Points
- A strict gluten-free diet should be initiated, with a goal of eliminating all gluten-containing foods, including wheat, barley, and rye, for a minimum duration of 6-12 months 1.
- The diet is the only effective treatment for celiac disease, and patients should strictly avoid all products containing wheat, barley, and rye proteins for the duration of their lives 1.
- Pure oats seem to be safe for most persons with celiac disease, but they should be introduced slowly, and patients should be monitored for adverse reactions 1.
- For patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there is no consistent evidence supporting the avoidance of gluten in the absence of a celiac disease diagnosis or suspected gluten sensitivity 1.
- However, some patients with IBD may experience symptomatic relief with a gluten-free diet, although this is likely due to the reduction of FODMAPs rather than gluten itself 1.
From the Research
Benefits of a Gluten-Free Diet for Intestinal Health
- A gluten-free diet is the cornerstone treatment for celiac disease (CD) and helps control signs and symptoms, and prevent complications by excluding the protein gluten found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye, and triticale 2
- Gluten causes small intestine inflammation in patients with CD, and eating a gluten-free diet helps reduce this inflammation 2
- A gluten-free diet may also be beneficial for other pathological conditions, including non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and diabetes 3
Limitations and Potential Drawbacks of a Gluten-Free Diet
- A gluten-free diet can be expensive, of limited nutritional value, and not readily available in many countries 2
- There is a risk of nutrient deficiencies in individuals who adopt a gluten-free diet regime 3
- The quality of gluten-free products is often inferior to those containing gluten, and there may be limitations and challenges related to a gluten-free diet 3, 4
Use of a Gluten-Free Diet in Non-Celiac Diseases
- There is limited evidence supporting the use of a gluten-free diet for the management of non-celiac diseases, despite its growing popularity among consumers 3
- The use of a gluten-free 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 5
- A gluten-free diet may be beneficial for patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and other gluten-related disorders, but more research is needed to fully understand its effects 6, 5