Celiac Disease, Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or Wheat Allergy: What is the Difference?
Download the Printable Version of this Educational Bulletin
Updated December, 2023
Celiac disease (CD), non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and wheat allergy are all conditions whose primary treatment is avoidance of specific dietary components. While celiac disease and wheat allergy are well-defined conditions, non-celiac gluten sensitivity is poorly understood currently. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition; wheat allergy involves an immune (not auto-immune) response, and the biological processes responsible for non-celiac gluten sensitivity remain undefined. Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity have many symptoms in common, whereas those of wheat allergy are usually distinct. Possible symptoms of CD and NCGS include gastrointestinal symptoms such as cramping, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as symptoms in other parts of the body, such as bone or joint pain, headaches, or fatigue, to name a few. Symptoms of a wheat allergy can include itching, hives, or anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction. Treatment for CD and NCGS is to remove gluten from the diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, as well as in hybrids and products made from these grains. Treatment for a wheat allergy is the removal of all forms of wheat from the diet.
Celiac disease (CD) is a genetic, autoimmune disorder that occurs in reaction to the ingestion of gluten. To develop celiac disease, a person must inherit the genetic predisposition, be consuming gluten, and have the disease activated. Activation triggers include stress, trauma (surgeries, etc.), and possibly viral infections and other environmental factors. While approximately 30-40% of the general population has a genetic predisposition for CD, only about 1% will develop the condition. The reaction to gluten causes inflammation and villous atrophy or flattening of the cells lining the small intestine, which can lead to malabsorption of nutrients and related health issues. There are over 200 identified symptoms of CD, which include those listed above, as well as anemia, behavioral changes, stunted growth, and infertility. Dermatitis herpetiformis is a celiac disease that manifests as a skin rash and affects approximately 10-15% of individuals with CD. The rate of CD is higher among relatives of those who are diagnosed, but anyone with a genetic predisposition can develop celiac disease at any age. Approximately half of individuals with celiac disease are still undiagnosed. Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is to maintain a gluten-free diet for life.
Non-celiac gluten Sensitivity (NCGS), also referred to as gluten sensitivity (GS) or non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) is not well defined. It is not an immunoglobulin E (IgE) (as with wheat allergy, see below) nor an autoimmune reaction (as with CD, see above). NCGS may have an innate immune component, but this has yet to be firmly established. There are no tests or biomarkers to identify GS. Since GS is not well understood, it is still unclear whether other components of gluten-containing grains may be involved in causing symptoms, at least in some cases. For gluten sensitivity to be diagnosed, it is first necessary to rule out CD, wheat allergy, and other possible causes of symptoms. Then, if improvement is seen when following a gluten-free diet, gluten sensitivity may be diagnosed.
Wheat allergy is an immune reaction to any of the hundreds of proteins in wheat. When a person has a wheat allergy, one type of white blood cells, called B-cells, send out immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to “attack” the wheat. At the same time, local tissues in the body send out natural chemical messengers to alert the rest of the body that there is a problem. This reaction happens very fast (within minutes to a few hours). It can involve a range of symptoms, from nausea, abdominal pain, itching, and swelling of the lips and tongue to trouble breathing or anaphylaxis (a life-threatening reaction). A person with a wheat allergy must avoid eating any form of wheat but does not have trouble tolerating gluten from non-wheat sources. A person can have a wheat allergy and have CD or NCGS. In the United States, wheat is one of the eight most common foods to which people are allergic. Children allergic to wheat may outgrow the allergy, but adults with a wheat allergy usually have it for life. The only treatment is a wheat-free diet.
Do I have celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergy?
Proper diagnosis is the key to answering this question and being able to follow the diet that is right for you. This is also the most important reason not to start a gluten-free diet before being tested and getting a diagnosis.
- Celiac disease diagnosis involves blood screening followed (in the case of positive results) by small intestine biopsy. A patient must consume a gluten-containing diet for accurate diagnosis, usually by a gastroenterologist.
- Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is diagnosed by ruling out other possible causes of symptoms, including – but not limited to – celiac disease and wheat allergy. After the above testing, if the removal of gluten from the diet improves symptoms, this may be diagnostic for NCGS. A gastroenterologist or primary care physician can make the diagnosis.
- Diagnosis of IgE food allergies, such as a wheat allergy, is generally done through Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) testing and a double-blind placebo test using the allergen. An allergist usually completes this.
Celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy are conditions that can be treated with the appropriate diet, either elimination of gluten or wheat. Working closely with your doctor and registered dietitian will help you get an accurate diagnosis and create a diet that supports your health and wellness.
This article has been assessed and approved by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.