Who would have ever thought that just a mere “sensitivity” to gluten containing foods could cause serious neurological problems such as depression. A new study published last month in the Journal of Gastroenterology found that depression symptoms and fatigue can result from a sensitivity to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. “Gluten sensitivity” is finally being officially recognized by the mainstream medical community as a real health problem, separate from celiac disease.[1] Exactly what causes gluten sensitivity, otherwise known as gluten intolerance, is unknown; but it is thought to involve the activation of the innate immune system.

Once the innate immune system starts reacting to gluten, a number of problems throughout the body can occur. These produce a highly variable set of symptoms with depression heading the list. The most common symptoms identified in addition to depression include fatigue, IBS-like digestive symptoms, foggy mind, muscle pain, and headaches.[2] A more complete list of symptoms can be found in the table here.  

Researchers are beginning to confirm the very real health problems associated with nonceliac gluten sensitivity. This is the term they use to describe a person who is intolerant of gluten but does not have the full blown gluten rejection disease known as celiac disease. One recent study compared subjects with celiac disease to those with gluten sensitivity and found that those with the gluten sensitivity actually had more symptoms, both digestive and non-digestive, than patients with celiac disease when they were challenged with gluten.[3]

Exactly how many people have gluten sensitivity is yet unknown, but the prevalence is thought to be many times higher than that of celiac disease, which itself affects approximately 1 in 100 people.

There is no definitive test for gluten sensitivity; about half of patients with gluten intolerance will have antibodies to gliadin in their blood, but half will not. In this latter group, blood levels of tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) and endomysial antibodies (EmA), the specific markers of celiac disease, will be normal.[2]

The good news is that if you have depression symptoms, a strict trial of gluten elimination from your diet for at least a few weeks may be all that’s necessary to know whether gluten is to blame. This should be one of the first action steps to take along the road to recovery from depression symptoms.

[1] Sapone A, Bai JC, Ciacci C, et al. Spectrum of gluten-related disorders: consensus on new nomenclature and classification. BMC Med. 2012 Feb 7;10:13.

[2] Volta U, Tovoli F, Cicola R, et al. Serological tests in gluten sensitivity (nonceliac gluten intolerance). J Clin Gastroenterol. 2012 Sep;46(8):680-5.

[3] Brottveit M, Vandvik PO, Wojniusz S, et al. Absence of somatization in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2012 Jul;47(7):770-7.