How NCWS differs from celiac disease
The difference between celiac disease and non-celiac wheat sensitivity lies in intestinal permeability and the genes regulating the immune response in the gut. Intestinal permeability is the ability of the gut lining to stop bacteria, antigens and undigested food proteins from seeping through. People with celiac disease or NCWS often have high permeability — also called a leaky gut.
Although people with NCWS may have diarrhoea, abdominal pain and other symptoms associated with celiac disease, they don't necessarily have the same kind of damage to the gut lining. The mechanisms of damage are different, but the symptoms and the management of both conditions are similar.
Health impact of wheat-related disorders
A wide range of diseases is associated with eating wheat. Dr. Alessio Fasano, Director of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, says around 300 health conditions are linked to wheat or gluten intolerance.
How common is it?
Research shows the frequency of celiac disease continues to rise. In the United States it has increased over the last 40 years from 2 cases per thousand to 10 per thousand (1%). Reliable Indian data is limited, but projections estimate that 1–2% of Indians have celiac disease — four times more than in the 1960s.
Highly under-diagnosed
Wheat sensitivity is often compared to an iceberg: the visible tip is the people with symptoms, while the much larger part below the surface is people with silent or latent forms. Over 90% remain undiagnosed, and it can take more than 10 years from symptoms to diagnosis — even in Western countries.