Correct terminology: nonceliac gluten sensitivity vs nonceliac wheat sensitivity

2016-06-18
Paul Moayyedi

What is the correct name: nonceliac gluten sensitivity or nonceliac wheat sensitivity?

Paul Moayyedi: Well, strictly with the definition it is actually wheat, it is not necessarily gluten. Often people avoid wheat products in total, and therefore they are looking at wheat sensitivity and it may not be gluten at all. In fact, as I said in my talk (see: Celiac disease and other forms of gluten intolerance in adults), it may not even be wheat – it can be a more general food intolerance. Overlapping all of this is the probability that at least in some of these patients it has nothing to do with food at all; it is just a placebo response with actually finding you have something to do to try and help your disease and you feel better because of that.

It is a very complex area. I think “nonceliac gluten sensitivity” is the term that is most often used in the medical community, but “wheat sensitivity” would be a better concept of what is being done.

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