A DNA Test for Celiac Disease

Many people are gluten intolerant or celiac – in other words, their body produces some kind of response A DNA test can help confirm whether you suffer from Celiac disease or not. Whilst many people consider Celiac disease and gluten intolerance to be the same thing, a distinction must be made as the two terms, although used interchangeably, are actually quite different.

So what’s the difference?

Gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity could actually refer to a wide spectrum because people can be affected to different degrees following consumption of gluten. Generally, people who suffer from some kind of gluten sensitivity will not have the same autoimmune response that a Celiac sufferer will have although the gluten sensitive person and the celiac disease suffered will exhibit similar symptoms. We can say that medically, Celiac disease involves an autoimmune response and the body reacts following the detection of gluten in the system by producing certain antigens to fight the “invader” molecules. Because people with gluten intolerance do not have this marked autoimmune response, a standard test to confirm gluten intolerance will provide negative results as these tests rely on the detection of certain antigens in the blood to confirm whether or not the person tested is a Celiac sufferer.

The intestinal damage caused by gluten and registered in people who are truly celiacs will not be found in people who are simply gluten sensitive or intolerant. For those who suspect gluten sensitivity, their only option is to cut out all gluten containing products and see if they feel better.

Genetic health testing: Are you Celiac?

A genetic health test can help confirm whether you carry any of a number of Celiac disease causing genes. A genetic predisposition test can confirm the likely probability that you are a true celiac sufferer and a DNA sample is all that is need to get results and the answers you need. Typically samples are collected as either blood samples or saliva samples. The results of a genetic predisposition test for celiac disease show a percentage probability that the person tested is a celiac sufferer.

 The two main culprits involved in Celiac disease are known as HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1. Scientists have also another genetic trend; a hereditary component to celiac disease. Because the genes for Celiac disease often run in families, it makes sense for people with a high predisposition to celiac disease to get their family members tested as well. People suffering from certain genetic disorders such as Down’s syndrome are more often Celiac than other people who do not suffer from a chromosomal abnormality.

Is it common?

A surprisingly high number of people around the world suffer from gluten intolerance and many are unaware that they even suffer from this disease because the symptoms are often quite subtle and one learns how to live or ignore the symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms are even attributed to some other condition. Some of the symptoms which are common to both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity include bloating, adnominal cramps and fatigue. Celiacs who ignore their symptoms could suffer from worse effects after many years of ingesting gluten, including malnourishment due to a malabsorption of nutrients.  This malabsorption would be due to the extensive damage caused to the intestinal tract and digestive system. Hard statistics are hard to come by but the prevalence rate of Celiac disease is around 1%. Gluten sensitivity is slightly more common, and prevalence rate stands at around 5- 7%. Still, doctors warn of the current trend to reach for “gluten free products” and claim gluten sensitivity. They have noted the wide spread preoccupation people have with gluten these days and how many people who claim to be insensitive to gluten could be just taken in by the fad.