by Betty Murray G


luten, a pro- tein found in wheat, spelt,


kamut, triticale, rye and barley, has been implicated in auto- immune conditions, as well as digestive complaints, including


celiac disease and as a contributing factor in other neurological and behavioral con- ditions. Testing for levels of reaction to glu- ten is not foolproof, but recent advances in laboratory science has made some much needed improvement in detecting immune reactions earlier in the disease progression. For celiac disease, the gold stan-


dard since the 1950s has been an intestinal biopsy, showing a complete destruction of the shag-like surface of the small intestine, resulting in a Berber carpet-like surface, reducing absorp- tion of nutrients. An intestinal biopsy is a surgical diagnostic test that extracts a tissue sample of the small intestine, looking for complete destruction of the shags. Some people do not get destruc- tion of the shags, so they will not earn the celiac disease moniker. In these gluten-sensitive people, the brunt of the reaction either affects the intestine, caus- ing symptoms without damage to the shags, or it affects other body tissues, or both.


The secondmost common diag-


nostic tests are blood tests of antigliadin IgG, and IgA, endomysial or anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies. These tests are fraught with false negatives; only ap- pearing positive when destruction of the shags of the small intestine is complete. Therefore, if you have advanced celiac disease, it is likely you will test positive. If you do not have advanced celiac, you will likely test negative. Here is another problem: If you have a positive blood test and a small bowel biopsy comes back nearly normal, you are likely to be told that gluten is not your problem, and gluten is safe to eat, only to continue advancing the disease. Recent research has revealed that


Gluten Sensitivity Getting you Down? Get Tested


testing for antigliadin IgA antibodies in stool samples or saliva may find early immune reactions before disease devel- opment. With the early detection in the intestines and saliva of immune reaction, the number of people reacting to gluten may be significantly higher than the cur- rent estimates. Some scientists believe that upwards of 29 percent of the normal population of the U.S. show an intestinal immunologic reaction to gluten. These tests offer a non-invasive way to screen for immune reactions before full-blown celiac disease develops. Family members of those diagnosed


with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should also be tested, as well as those suffering with digestive issues; any autoimmune disease; asthma; osteopo- rosis; iron deficiency anemia; female infertility; seizures, and other neurologic


syndromes; depression and other psy- chiatric syndromes such as autism, ADD and depression.


Betty Murray, C.N., H.H.C. is a certified nutritionist, health counselor, author of Cleanse: Detox Your Body, Mind and Spirit, speaker and found of Living Well Health & Wellness Center, an integrative medical center in Dallas and educa- tion chair for the Greater Dallas Gluten Intolerance Group. Murray specializes in working with digestive disorders, autoimmunity and weight loss. For more information about food sensitivities and diet, read her new book. To contact Betty Murray email Info@livingwelldal- las.com. Visit Livingwelldallas.com and CleanseTheBook.com.


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