What Are the Harmful Effects of Gluten?

Gluten-based foods are responsible for numerous symptoms in several people nowadays, ranging from mild to severe conditions. There is room for further research on the effects of gluten.

But researchers have come up with a group of symptoms and diseases associated with gluten intolerance. If you would like to learn more on the topic of gluten's effects, here's the complete guide. 

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in various dietary sources such as wheat, barley, and rye. It is composed of two subunits called glutelin and gliadin. 

Typically, proteins are necessary for the body for normal development and growth. They help improve the condition of the skin and give it a fresh look. In older people, the deficiency of a particular protein, called collagen, results in wrinkles.

Proteins aid the reproductive system and are also crucial in making blood. The nervous system cannot function properly without the role of several vital proteins. Thus, proteins are not only not harmful, but our survival depends on them. 

When Does Gluten Cause Damage?

Sometimes, proteins can become harmful. Some have an immune system that is extra sensitive to certain things. Whenever these trigger items enter the body, the immune system reacts violently and tries to destroy them. But the antibodies that are meant to do this also destroy the cells of the body.

Such a condition is called an autoimmune disorder. Upon repeated exposure to these trigger items, the body keeps harming its cells which deteriorates the individual's health. Celiac disease is an example of an autoimmune disorder.

What Happens in Celiac Disease? 

In patients with celiac disease, their immune system is intolerant to gluten, or more specifically, the gliadin component of gluten. Whenever these patients eat gluten, antibodies are produced that destroy gluten. But while performing their action, the antibodies also destroy the small intestine cells and damage their lining.

It happens every time a celiac patient eats gluten. The small intestine keeps getting damaged, and as a result, the patients suffer from various gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation. Many patients also complain about flatulence and abdominal cramps. 

Does Everyone Suffer From Digestive Problems?

Not everyone has the same symptoms despite being gluten intolerant. Many people also suffer from other atypical symptoms that aren't related to the gut. These are further individually explained in detail. 

Gluten, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and Other Skin Conditions 

Sometimes, when people with celiac disease eat gluten, the antibodies destroy the small intestine and are also deposited in the skin. As a result, itchy bumps and blisters start appearing on the skin. The most common site of formation of these blisters is on both elbows and knees.

But many people have blisters along their hairline or on their buttocks as well. About 10-15 percent of celiac patients suffer from dermatitis herpetiformis. Many of those mentioned do not have the typical gastrointestinal symptoms. Dermatitis herpetiformis isn't the only one, and other skin conditions can also develop due to celiac disease.

Alopecia areata:

The link between this condition and gluten has long been established. In alopecia areata, the patient suffers from a body-wide hair loss that can either be patchy or widespread.

Atopic dermatitis: 

Atopic dermatitis or eczema also occurs due to malfunctioning of the immune system in a celiac patient. The characteristic symptoms include chronic inflammation and irritable rashes.

Psoriasis: 

The distinguishing symptoms of this skin condition are the pink, inflammatory scales.

After detailed experiments, researchers were able to prove that following a gluten-free diet is always helpful. When individuals with celiac disease restricted their gluten intake to less than 20ppm, it relieved their dermatitis herpetiformis.

Similarly, the symptoms of the remaining skin conditions also alleviated in the affected individuals. There isn't much evidence to prove that hives are caused by gluten. But in celiac patients who have hives, eating a gluten-free diet found significant relief to their symptoms.

Gluten and Female Reproductive Issues

Up until now, we've discussed how gluten can be harmful to those who have celiac disease. After research, it was concluded that gluten, even if you're not a celiac patient, can cause reproductive problems. But a proper link between these two, in the case of a healthy person, is yet to be established.

If a celiac patient eats gluten, especially a woman, they are very prone to suffering from reproductive issues, and there's enough evidence for that. Gluten can decrease the chances of a successful pregnancy in several ways.

Reduction in Ovarian Reserve: 

Female ovaries release an egg each month that is fertilized by a sperm in a successful pregnancy. The number of eggs capable enough to get fertilized by the sperm is called the ovarian reserve. If the number of such capable eggs is higher, the chances of a successful pregnancy are, obviously, more.

If a celiac patient eats gluten, this ovarian reserve reduces by a significant amount. It continuously keeps getting reduced for as long as the celiac patient keeps eating gluten. Since eating gluten meant a constant decrease in the ovarian reserve, going gluten-free is the only suitable treatment.

Decrease in Healthy Vaginal Bacteria

When gluten damages the small intestinal lining, it also harms and kills the good bacteria in the gut. A decrease in the number of these also affects the beneficial bacteria in the vagina.

The vaginal bacteria are responsible for ensuring sperm survival. After being fertilized, the egg has to be implanted in the uterus, which is also aided by this vaginal bacteria. Consequently, whenever celiac patients stopped their gluten intake, the vaginal bacteria levels normalized. 

Irregular Period Cycle

Females suffer from a reproductive problem caller amenorrhea. In this condition, a female skips or misses three consecutive periods. According to a study, about 20 percent of celiac patients suffered from amenorrhea, while only 2.2 percent of the healthy women had this condition.

If a woman skips a period, she also misses her chance of getting pregnant in that cycle. Researchers also proved that once the females stopped eating gluten, they got their periods back. 

Gluten and Anemia

The small intestine of a celiac patient is pretty damaged, and the continuous intake makes the condition even worse. The small intestines primary function is to absorb various nutrients from the food that we eat.

When the antibodies destroy its lining, the small intestine can't perform its functions properly. As a result, the iron that we get from the diet isn't absorbed in the body and can't be utilized.

One of the most critical jobs of iron is to make the hemoglobin of red blood cells. Oxygen can mainly be transported in the body only when it is attached to hemoglobin. Due to iron deficiency, hemoglobin is not formed in adequate amounts, and as a result, normal red blood cells aren't developed.

They are of smaller size, and their oxygen-carrying capacity is significantly reduced. It's why celiac patients suffering from this symptom feel more fatigue, weakness, and dizziness. They have to bear frequent headaches, and their skin is paler. Many celiac patients also have dark circles under their eyes, or as the doctors call it, periorbital or periocular hyperpigmentation, due to iron deficiency anemia. These dark circles can also be due to a deficiency of vitamins B12, E, K, and D. 

Other Deficiencies

Similar to how the small intestine cannot absorb iron, it fails to capture and utilize other vital nutrients. For this reason, eating gluten can cause various deficiency diseases in celiac patients. It keeps getting worse whenever gluten is eaten because this keeps triggering the immune system.

The small intestine isn't given a chance to heal. But if a gluten-free diet is followed for 3-6 months, this can give it enough time to heal. Once it has regained its normal original anatomy, the small intestine can absorb nutrients properly once again. In women, deficiency of various minerals and vitamins can also be the reason behind failed attempts of getting pregnant.

Gluten and Neurological Problems

Eating gluten doesn't only affect physical health, but it also negatively influences and deteriorates mental health. According to a study, 3 out of 5 celiac patients suffered from neurological problems. Many psychological symptoms are prevalent in celiac patients.

Depression: 

Although there are several causes of depression, one can be the result of regularly eating gluten if you're a celiac patient. Digestive issues that come with celiac disease can be the reason why you're feeling so hopeless and sad.

There's a hormone called serotonin that performs the function of inducing happiness and satisfaction. When abnormally low serotonin levels are produced, which is linked to gluten intake, the individual cannot combat depression.

During the digestion of gluten, certain harmful products are produced that are also a cause of depression. Moreover, the brain is affected by the decreased amount of good bacteria in the gut, increasing the risk of developing depression.

Numbness and Pain: 

The prevalence of numbness in arms and legs is more common in celiac patients than in healthy people. Many studies and various experiments prove this theory. Specific nerve cells create the feeling of sensation in the arms and legs.

When these are targeted by the antibodies produced in response to gluten, patients suffer from numbness in the affected areas. If the nerve cells that are damaged have a motor function, this results in pain.

Ataxia: 

The common symptoms of ataxia are slurring while speaking, falling, stumbling, and incoordination. Sometimes eye movements and limb coordination are also affected. In a study conducted at a UK ataxia center involving 1500 patients, twenty percent of the patients had ataxia because of genetic predisposition. Almost a quarter of the remaining patients developed ataxia as a consequence of undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease.

Anxiety: 

An experiment was conducted to see whether gluten had an impact on causing anxiety. In the experiment, almost 14 percent of the people with celiac disease had a panic disorder. When compared to healthy individuals, only 2 percent of the control group had anxiety.

Gluten and Yeast Infections

The chance of developing yeast infections is higher in celiac patients than in ordinary people. When experiments proved this, medical experts set out to find what caused this yeast overgrowth.

Our body is a habitat of various microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that help our body. These bacteria and fungi are not allowed to grow beyond a specific limit because then they become harmful. 

Whenever a celiac patient eats gluten, the body responds by producing antibodies that destroy the small intestinal lining. As a result, the immune system of the small intestine doesn't remain as strong as it once was.

The fungi in the gut take advantage of this and overgrow. Among these fungi, candida is the most potent. Typically, it lives in its alga form, which is pretty peaceful. But when it overgrows, it converts into its menacing fungus form and starts to wreak havoc. 

The common symptoms of candida overgrowth in the gut are constipation, stomach bloating, and diarrhea. This condition is called candidiasis. These symptoms are similar to celiac disease. 

It's why eating gluten can cause candidiasis and increase the intensity and frequency of the symptoms of celiac disease. 

When a celiac patient starts eating a gluten-free diet, the small intestine heals, and the immune system regains its strength. It reverses the candida overgrowth, which alleviates the symptoms and makes things easier. 

Gluten and Sudden Weight Loss

We just discussed how dangerous eating gluten is for the small intestine of a celiac patient. When the lining is injured, it becomes impossible for the small intestine to absorb nutrients in the same way it used to before.

If celiac disease isn't treated or diagnosed, the patients keep eating gluten and suffer from deficiency diseases. Untreated celiac can lead to malnutrition and, eventually, weight loss. 

In an experiment, almost 23 percent of the patients involved were affected by weight loss, making it one of the most common symptoms. Once a gluten-free diet is introduced and the small intestine heals, the patients start feeling better, provided they stick to a gluten-free diet. A study highlighted that the patients gained an average of 7.75 kg after following a gluten-free diet for a while.

Gluten and Autoimmune Disorders

Some people have an immune system that can be tricked fairly easily. Normally, the immune system responds to potent and dangerous substances called antigens and tolerates the rest. But in these people, the immune system wrongly interprets the seemingly harmless particles as an antigen.

In reaction, it starts making loads and loads of antibodies which damage the body's tissues. Ultimately, gluten can make the condition worse for someone who has rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, and Grave's disease. 

Due to the structural similarity of gluten and the antigens of these diseases, the immune system becomes aggravated. It is possible to be the other way around, though, and the prevalence of an autoimmune disorder can increase the risk of celiac disease.

If celiac disease isn't diagnosed timely, the chances of developing multiple autoimmune disorders become higher. The most commonly acquired autoimmune disorder as a consequence of eating gluten is type 1 diabetes. 

So eating gluten can make you susceptible to other autoimmune disorders or worsen the symptoms of the ones you're already suffering from. The way to keep that from happening is by getting diagnosed and strictly following a gluten-free diet.

What's the Treatment?

The only available treatment is to eat a gluten-free diet. Gluten is harmful when the dietary intake is above 20ppm. All the food sources that have less than 20ppm are called gluten-free. Some food items are naturally gluten-free, while many gluten-free substitutes have also been discovered for gluten recipes.

According to doctors and medical experts, going gluten-free helps heal the small intestine and returns it to its normal condition, which eventually alleviates the symptoms. When the dietary intake of gluten is reduced, no antibodies are produced, which means that the small intestine is kept safe from further harm. So a gluten-free diet is not only a treatment but also a great way of prevention. 

According to a study, almost 79 percent of the patients involved in the study suffered from diarrhea. Upon receiving treatment and following a gluten-free diet, 17 percent of these patients found relief to their diarrhea within a few days.

Final Thoughts

Get a professional diagnosis when you're skeptical that your symptoms or underlying conditions are gluten-related. With timely diagnosis and preventive measures, you can save your body from further damage. Your health will always come first, and it's essential to take care of it!