Over the last two decades, up to 20% of the population in Western nations have reported an abnormal physical response to food ingestion, also known as an adverse reaction to food (ARF). Deciphering the cause, triggers, and pathophysiology of these food reactions is often challenging because their presentation can be indistinguishable. These ARFs can be either immune-mediated or non-immune mediated, making these reactions further challenging to triage. Laboratory testing plays a pivotal and crucial role as a tool to distinguish these conditions. In this presentation, we will focus primarily on immune-mediated reactions to gluten protein and how to manage and identify lifestyle exposure.
Gluten-related disorders have gained increased attention in recent years due to their increasing prevalence and diverse clinical presentation, with celiac disease being only one end of this diagnostic spectrum. While a gluten-free (GF) diet remains a central aspect of management, accurate diagnosis is fundamental to providing targeted and effective care. Furthermore, maintaining a strict GF diet in our society brings its own challenges. In this presentation, we will discuss gluten-related immune mechanisms underlying celiac disease, non-celiac gluten immune sensitivity, and the critical role of laboratory testing in achieving accurate and timely diagnoses. We will discuss a variety of industry-available testing options, including the gluten-peptide add-on to GI-MAP™ stool test from Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory to identify unintentional gluten exposure. We will also briefly review dietary supplements available to attenuate gluten reactions. Join us as we explore these complexities and maximize our patients’ success in achieving optimal wellness.
Learning Objectives
