Gastroenterologist called bloating after bread a sign of celiac disease

If, after a piece of bread, pie or pasta, your stomach starts to rumble, bloating, discomfort or even diarrhea appears — do not blame it on "bad food" or "body characteristics". Such symptoms can be a sign of celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disease that, without diagnosis and treatment, leads to irreversible health consequences. Evgeny Belousov, a gastroenterologist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg clinic), PhD, told Izvestia on September 20.

"Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which the body reacts to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and some varieties of oats. When gluten enters the intestines of genetically predisposed people, an immune response is triggered that damages the villi of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. These villi are responsible for the absorption of nutrients — vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates," said the specialist.

According to the expert, celiac disease can occur without obvious intestinal symptoms, especially in adults. In such cases, atypical symptoms may appear: anemia, depression, osteoporosis, or dermatitis herpetiformis. Therefore, if you feel uncomfortable after eating food with gluten, it is important not to exclude bread from the diet, but to consult a doctor for diagnosis.

Fats in the city: why you need to reduce your diet in the summer

Experts have told us which soups and drinks make it easier to tolerate abnormal heat.

The doctor drew attention to the fact that celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are different conditions. This disease is autoimmune with a genetic predisposition, is confirmed by laboratory tests and requires a lifelong gluten-free diet. In contrast, gluten insensitivity is a functional disorder in which there is no autoimmune damage to the intestine, and symptoms can be controlled by adjusting gluten intake.

"Self-diagnosis and self-medication are dangerous. Only a doctor can differentiate between these conditions. Premature gluten withdrawal before taking tests can lead to false negative results and make it difficult to diagnose celiac disease," the gastroenterologist emphasized.

According to him, the only effective treatment for celiac disease is a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. Belousov also recommends monitoring the composition of products, reading labels and avoiding products with a risk of gluten cross-contamination.

On June 26, Belousov said that gluten is a natural gluten complex found in grain crops. The exclusion of this component from the diet of a healthy person can harm his body. According to him, by harvesting cereals, a person deprives himself of important sources of B vitamins, iron, fiber and minerals.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.