Supplement
Gluten is a group of proteins in wheat, barley, and rye that gives dough its stretch, and it is not an essential nutrient. Research is clearest in celiac disease, where strong evidence showed gluten damaged the lining of the small intestine and disrupted nutrient absorption. Some people without celiac disease reported gut symptoms, but that evidence is limited, and none showed healthy people benefit from avoiding it.
- Updated
- How we grade
- Best evidence
- Grade A
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 1021
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intestinal Damage Gluten causes villous atrophy and malabsorption in celiac disease. Gluten-free diet is the ONLY treatment. | Changes; see studies | Large effect | 10,000 people |
Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GI Symptoms Some individuals experience symptoms with gluten despite negative celiac tests. May overlap with FODMAP sensitivity. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 500 people |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- GI Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GI Symptoms Some IBS patients report benefit from gluten-free diet, but effect may be due to reduced FODMAPs rather than gluten | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 400 people |
Healthy Population
- Any Health Outcome
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Health Outcome NO evidence that gluten-free diet benefits healthy individuals without celiac or NCGS | NoneNo effect | 5,000 people |
Key findings
- Intestinal DamageChanges; see studies
- GI SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- Any Health Outcome
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Gluten products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade A
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