Self-reported Wheat Sensitivity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Healthy Subjects: Prevalence of Celiac Markers and Response to Wheat-free Diet

Overview

Journal J Neurogastroenterol Motil

Date 2021 Oct 13

PMID 34642280

Citations 2

Authors

Pavan Dhoble

Philip Abraham

Devendra Desai

Anand Joshi

Tarun Gupta

Shachish Doctor

Anand Deshpande

Rajeshwari Basavanna

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background/aims: Most patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) report food-related aggravation of symptoms. Wheat/gluten is one of the most commonly incriminated. We studied the prevalence of self-reported wheat sensitivity in patients with IBS and in a healthy population from a region in India consuming mixed-cereal diets, correlated it with serological and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers of celiac disease, and evaluated the response to a wheat-free diet.

Methods: We surveyed 204 patients with IBS and 400 healthy persons for self-reported wheat sensitivity. Testing for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase and HLA DQ2 or DQ8 was done in individuals who reported wheat sensitivity. Consenting persons with wheat sensitivity were put on wheat-free diet and monitored for symptom change.

Results: Twenty-three of 204 patients with IBS (11.3%) and none of the healthy subjects self-reported wheat sensitivity. Of 23 patients, 14 (60.9%) were positive for HLA DQ2 or DQ8 and none for anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody. After 6 weeks on wheat-free diet, all 19 participating patients reported clinical improvement; fewer patients had bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and easy fatigue.

Conclusions: Eleven percent of patients with IBS self-reported wheat sensitivity. None of them had positive celiac serology; 60.9% were positive for HLA DQ2 and DQ8, suggesting a possible genetic basis. All of them improved symptomatically on a wheat-free diet.

Citing Articles

Self-reported food intolerances in an Indian population: Need for individualization rather than a universal low-FODMAP diet.

Abraham P, Dhoble P, Desai D, Joshi A, Gupta T JGH Open. 2023; 7(11):772-776.

PMID: 38034051 PMC: 10684987. DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12981.

Nonceliac gluten sensitivity.

Catassi C, Catassi G, Naspi L Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2023; 26(5):490-494.

PMID: 36942921 PMC: 10399927. DOI: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000925.

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