About 2% of Americans have celiac disease and are allergic to gluten, even in microamounts.
Gluten sensitively is a bit more controversial; it's reportedly found in up to 6% of adults, yet 11% of adults now purchase gluten-free foods. The related area that may deserve particular attention is the possible relationship between gluten and psychosis.
The CATIE trial demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia have significantly elevated antigliadin antibodies (gliadin is a component of gluten); over 23% of schizophrenic patients had moderate to high antigliadin antibodies compared with just 3.1% of controls.
"Maybe we should be checking our psychotic patients for celiac disease," commented Dr. Deans, assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City, before walking the audience through an anecdotal case.
Source: Bret S. Stetka, MD, July 07, 2015 http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/847304_7
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