Gluten/wheat sensitivity

Symptoms of gluten/wheat sensitivity

The symptoms of gluten/wheat sensitivity are non-specific and similar to those of coeliac disease, wheat allergy or irritable bowel syndrome. They can affect both the gastrointestinal tract and other areas.

Gluten sensitivity: diverse symptoms, dynamic progression

The symptoms of gluten/wheat sensitivity are not only diverse, but also vary greatly from person to person. While most people affected experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or reflux, many also report extraintestinal symptoms such as headaches, concentration problems ("foggy mind"), chronic fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and skin changes.

The symptoms can occur in isolation or in combination and vary in intensity. The symptoms often only appear hours or days after consuming wheat, which makes it difficult to identify the cause. In addition, many sufferers experience fluctuating symptoms with symptom-free intervals.

This clinical heterogeneity requires a high degree of sensitivity in the medical history and structured documentation of symptoms in order to distinguish gluten/wheat sensitivity from other gluten- and wheat-related enteropathies such as irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease or wheat allergy.

Gastrointestinal symptoms of gluten sensitivity

The most common gastrointestinal symptoms of gluten/wheat sensitivity are similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and include:

Flatulence
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Reflux

These symptoms are usually non-specific and may be accompanied by changes in bowel habits (e.g. alternating between constipation and diarrhoea). Studies show that gastrointestinal symptoms occur more frequently than extraintestinal manifestations.

Extraintestinal manifestations of gluten sensitivity

Gluten/wheat sensitivity can also manifest itself through a variety of systemic symptoms, including:

Headaches
"Foggy mind" (concentration problems)
Chronic fatigue
Joint and muscle pain

Skin changes (e.g. eczema, dermatitis)
Depression
Neurological symptoms
Anaemia

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