Science of Gluten Intolerance
Despite increasing awareness of gluten intolerance, many people continue to be misdiagnosed or undiagnosed because the condition is misunderstood. It’s believed as many as one in 20 people in the United States is affected by some form of gluten sensitivity. Because symptoms are so numerous and widely varied, it is often mistaken for something else, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Gluten intolerance affects the intestines specifically, but many of the symptoms seem to be unrelated. Skin rash, headaches, joint pain, numbness, tooth or gum problems, and fatigue can be indications of the condition that could go unrecognized. Despite growing interest among doctors, PhD programs, and online support groups, there remains no effective test for gluten intolerance. Until now, most patients who don’t have celiac disease have been told there’s nothing wrong with them at all.
