Gluten Intolerance Test

A gluten intolerance test will determine if an individual has some adverse effects when he consumes gluten. This is a condition is also known as gluten insensitivity (GS) and there are many people around the world who are affected by this. Gluten is a protein contained in 4 types of grains - wheat, rye, barley and spelt (a kind of wheat); so it is impossible to completely avoid the consumption of gluten in one's diet. But by carrying out this test, one can at least determine if he is a sensitivity to gluten.

Gluten has certain glue-like properties which leads various food items like bread to appear the way they do. It is this very property of theirs that causes some side effects inside the body as well. It is very hard for gluten intolerant people to digest gluten, and this inadvertently leads to the growth of certain kinds of bacteria and yeast within the body. This then leads to various symptoms and problems, and in order to avoid this situation one should undergo gluten intolerance testing. This list of foods containing gluten will show all the food items that must be avoided, when one is suffering from this condition.

How to Test for Gluten Intolerance

The best way to know if you are gluten sensitive, is to undergo a clinical gluten intolerance test. These are tests conducted by doctors to determine if an individual who is displaying gluten intolerance symptoms, is actually gluten sensitive. Here are some of the most common tests employed for this purpose.

• A stool fat test, in order to test the malabsorption level of gluten
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) for signs of inflammation in the intestines
• C-Reactive Protein (CRP) to look for further signs of inflammation
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) to check for anemia
• Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and Vitamin E tests to check for vitamin deficiency
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) to check electrolyte, protein and calcium levels

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive system disease that is closely related to gluten intolerance. If an individual has contracted this disease, he will have difficulties in absorbing vital nutrients from the food he consumes. The villi of the small intestine will also be damaged as a result. All this leads to the surfacing of several malabsorption symptoms, as the individual is not absorbing as many nutrients as he should be. Please note, that simply being gluten intolerant does not mean that one has Celiac disease.

A gluten intolerance blood test will also determine if the patient is facing this particular problem, and this helps the doctor suggest suitable measures to be taken. In some extreme cases, an intestinal biopsy may also be recommended by the doctor, to check for gluten intolerance symptoms.

Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

Here are some commonly found gluten intolerance symptoms that may induce a doctor to recommend a gluten intolerance test for an individual.

• Headaches
• Mouth ulcers
• Poor immune system
• Sudden weight gain or weight loss
• Skin problems
• Gastrointestinal problems like flatulence, diarrhea, bloating etc.
• Malabsorption symptoms

These symptoms are signs for other diseases and conditions as well, so the doctor will need to thoroughly examine you to determine the exact cause of the condition, and to see if you really do possess a gluten allergy. He will also ask you a lot of questions, and these answers will be extremely useful in the diagnosis.

Gluten Intolerance Test at Home

If you are unsure about your condition and are hesitant to visit a doctor, you can test yourself for gluten intolerance at home as well. You will have to purchase a gluten intolerance test kit from the market. This is easily available at most medical stores, and are not very expensive. You will be required to take a tiny prick of blood from your finger, and this is very similar to the way a home pregnancy test works. The test checks for the antibodies that are present in the blood if one is gluten intolerant, and this helps determine the situation.

You need to follow the instructions that are given on the test kit, but before you do so you must consult with your doctor and ask him if it is alright for you to carry out this test yourself. In most cases, this is a pretty safe procedure, and you will know your gluten intolerance situation pretty soon.

Remember that this is simply an amateur test, and if you are not convinced with the result, you must visit a doctor for a proper testing procedure. Once the gluten intolerance test tells you the outcome, you can decide on the next step you must take.