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Non-Celiac family, can they develop gluten sensitivity by following gluten-free diet

Washingtonmama

By Washingtonmama
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Washingtonmama Contributor
Washingtonmama
Posted

My 13 year old son, two adult daughters and myself have Celiac. My husband and 18 year old son do not. It's been an ongoing debate with us. Can a non-celiac person who follows a gluten-free diet, develop gluten sensitivity? So they follow our gluten-free diet, but on ocassion eat gluten. Can they develop gluten sensitivity? I think gluten sensitivity is a personal thing, it happens to some people and not others. My family thinks if you don't eat gluten, then eat it ocassionly, your body rejects it and you have Celiac symptoms. The debate winner gets to choose ice cream flavors for banana splits! ? ? 

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Simple answer is no. Avoiding gluten will not bring on celiac or gluten sensitivity.  If your non-celiac family members are experiencing symptoms after eating gluten only on occasion they need to be tested for celiac. That of course would require them to consume gluten daily before testing. Think of it this way, many only eat turkey (for example) on holidays. They don't become intolerant of turkey because they only eat it a couple times a year. You can't bring on celiac by avoiding gluten.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
(edited)

I was going to post exactly what Ravenwoid posted.  Except I was going to use watermelon as my example! ?

 And your  son does know that he can develop Celiac at any time?  

Edited by kareng
Washingtonmama Contributor
Washingtonmama
Posted
  • Author
3 hours ago, kareng said:

I was going to post exactly what Ravenwoid posted.  Except I was going to use watermelon as my example! ?

 And your  son does know that he can develop Celiac at any time?  

I have a total of six children, three who have Celiac. My oldest (30 years old) was recently diagnosed. She is very unhappy about it to put it mildly. I have a feeling my youngest daughter (24) will be next, though she is in complete denial and refuses to get the test done. Living with Celiac disease really doesn't bother me. It's a royal pain when going out to eat, but other than that, it forces me to eat healthier. Though I can't deny that I'd love a soft, fluffy donut every once in a while. ?

7 hours ago, ravenwoodglass said:

Simple answer is no. Avoiding gluten will not bring on celiac or gluten sensitivity.  If your non-celiac family members are experiencing symptoms after eating gluten only on occasion they need to be tested for celiac. That of course would require them to consume gluten daily before testing. Think of it this way, many only eat turkey (for example) on holidays. They don't become intolerant of turkey because they only eat it a couple times a year. You can't bring on celiac by avoiding gluten.

That makes perfect sense, thanks. I think I'll choose different chocolate flavors for the banana splits since I won the debate lol

Ranchers Wife Apprentice
Ranchers Wife
Posted

Mmmmm, chocolate!

Kareng brings up an often ignored or misunderstood point: if the doctor runs antibody tests for Celiac disease, and they are negative... and with such information the doctor tells that person that they do not have Celiac disease... it's still totally possible for that same person to test positive for Celiac antibodies in the future.

 

Right now, it seems like doctors often do a Celiac screening test for only one of several possible antibodies, and then "rule out Celiac disease"...forever in their estimation. That's kind of like saying, well, you don't have colon cancer as per today's colonoscopy, so don't ever come back again!

Even with gluten sensitive patients, it seems...if the antibodies and biopsy are negative, hey, you don't have Celiac disease. Unfortunately I think that plenty of people who end up in this situation really do develop Celiac antibodies and intestinal damage. That could be prevented if the medical go to in case of gluten sensitivity was... Stop Eating Gluten!

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