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Review
. 2018 Oct 11:7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1631.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.15849.1. eCollection 2018.

Recent advances in understanding non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Maria Raffaella Barbaro  1 , Cesare Cremon  1 , Vincenzo Stanghellini  1 , Giovanni Barbara  1
Affiliations
Review

Recent advances in understanding non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Maria Raffaella Barbaro et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a condition characterized by intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms related to the ingestion of gluten-containing foods in the absence of celiac disease and wheat allergy. The diagnosis is cumbersome and currently confirmed only by gluten withdrawal and double-blind placebo challenge protocols. There is great overlap in symptoms between NCGS and other functional gastrointestinal disorders, making a differential diagnosis difficult. The pathophysiology of NCGS is largely unclear, and there are contrasting data on the trigger of this condition. This review will highlight the state-of-the-art knowledge on NCGS and the key open questions.

Keywords: IBS; NCGS; diagnosis; gluten; wheat.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing interests were disclosed.No competing interests were disclosed.No competing interests were disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Overlap and differences between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and celiac disease (CD).
There is an overlap in symptoms between NCGS and IBS patients, although there are also some differences. NCGS symptoms improve after a gluten-free diet (GFD). In addition, NCGS is associated with a greater incidence of anemia, and weight loss and atopy are more common in patients with NCGS than in patients with IBS. NCGS could be considered a partially separated entity from IBS but is completely distinct from CD for serological and histological manifestations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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