WoW ● Project Work Packages | ||
WP3 - Consumer perceptions about wheat and gluten and
gastrointestinal complaints Although wheat is generally known as
a health promoting cereal grain providing an important contribution to
daily energy intake worldwide, it has been reported to elicit adverse
physical reactions (e.g. coeliac disease, wheat allergy) in susceptible
individuals. Coeliac disease is a severe inflammatory disorder of the
small intestine partly caused by dietary gluten sensitivity, with a
prevalence of 0.5-1%. On the other hand, there is a large proportion of
the general population (0.5-30%) who avoid or reduce gluten-containing
products despite the fact that coeliac diseases, allergy or any related
autoimmune involvement have been ruled out. This phenomenon is referred
to as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or non-celiac wheat
sensitivity (NCWS) and manifests as gastrointestinal (e.g. abdominal
discomfort, bloating, diarrhea, rumbling, pain) and/or extra-intestinal
complaints (e.g. headache, lethargy, depression, anxiety) after
consuming wheat or gluten, which improve after gluten/wheat withdrawal.
|
© 2012 Eatwell | Disclaimer | Design by Gosker Digital Solutions |