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ScienceDaily_2013 03240.txt

#Non-celiac wheat sensitivity: Is it an allergy? Patients with non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) and other food sensitivities showed clinical laboratory and histological characteristics suggesting they may be suffering from a non-Ige-mediated food allergy according to the article Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity as an Allergic Condition: Personal Experience and Narrative Review published online today in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. In this review lead author Antonio Carroccio M d. from the University of Palermo in Palermo Italy examines prior data regarding NCWS and other relevant medical literature focusing on NCWS patients who may suffer from non-Ige-mediated wheat allergy. Non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) is characterized by symptoms that can involve the gastrointestinal tract the nervous system the skin and other organs. The only common denominator of NCWS is wheat consumption: the symptoms disappear on exclusion of wheat from the diet and reappear on wheat consumption. Food allergies are divided typically into two areas: Ige mediated or non-Ige mediated. In Ige mediated food allergies people develop symptoms almost immediately after eating and when blood and skin tests are carried out there is a positive marker. Non-Ige mediated food allergies including celiac disease primarily affect the GI mucosa (the innermost layer of the gastrointestinal tract) and have delayed a onset of symptoms which can make it difficult to diagnosis. Dr. Carroccio and his colleagues reviewed data on 276 patients diagnosed with NCWS using a double-blind placebo-controlled wheat challenge. The data indicating a possible wheat allergy diagnosis and other data in the literature were examined. The authors hypothesize that patients with NCWS may be suffering from non-Ige mediated food allergy. We reviewed the role of serum Immunoglobulin g antibodies and the basophil activation assay in food allergy as well as the histology findings in the food allergy diagnosis said Dr. Carroccio. We compared patients suffering from NCSW and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to controls with IBS not due to NCWS. The review also suggests a link in wheat withdrawal and the intestinal microbiota. A change in diet with wheat withdrawal can also cause a change in the intestinal microbiota. This is now considered a crucial element in IBS pathogenesis. Future studies in NCWS patients should consider the role of diet in the microbiota and in turn on the intestinal immune system Dr. Carroccio added. Based on his review Dr. Carroccio concluded Non-celiac wheat sensitivity can now be considered the cause of gastrointestinal symptoms which overlap those commonly attributed to functional disorders. However many doubts remain and it must be underlined that we must utilize the double blind placebo-controlled challenge method to confirm the suspicion of non-celiac wheat sensitivity and then study the pathogenesis of that specific clinical manifestation. A confident NCWS diagnosis must exclude a placebo effect. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by American College of Gastroenterology (ACG. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference e

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