Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye, oats and some other grains
In some patients, symptoms diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may actually be due to celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
A study published in The Lancet (November 3, 2001; 358:1504–1508) compared 300 patients diagnosed with IBS to 300 healthy control subjects. All participants were tested for antibodies associated with gluten sensitivity.
Among the IBS group, 66 patients had positive antibody tests, suggesting a reaction to gluten. Of these:
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14 patients were confirmed to have celiac disease by biopsy
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43 patients had normal intestinal tissue, despite positive antibodies
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9 patients were lost to follow-up or declined biopsy
In contrast, only two individuals in the control group were diagnosed with celiac disease.
The researchers concluded that IBS was significantly associated with celiac disease when compared with matched controls. These findings suggest that screening for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity may be relevant in patients diagnosed with IBS, particularly when symptoms are persistent or unexplained.
