The only effective long-term treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by the consumption of gluten – a protein found in certain types of grain including wheat, barley, and rye.
Unlike gluten intolerances or sensitivities, celiac disease results in lasting damage to the small intestine. When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten, their immune system launches an attack that ends up damaging the villi lining the small intestine which can result in digestive symptoms and, with long-term exposure, malabsorption of nutrients.
While someone who is sensitive to gluten may experience short-term negative effects like abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea, the consequences for celiac sufferers can be more severe and may last for days. But how soon after eating gluten do symptoms start? That’s what we’re here to discuss.
Symptoms of Accidental Gluten Exposure
When it comes to accidental gluten exposure, symptoms vary from one person to another. Even some people with celiac disease may not react at all. These things may make it difficult to know when you’ve been exposed to gluten, so it’s important to get to know your body.
A survey published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics in July 2016 revealed that about 68% of people with celiac disease have a reaction every time they consume gluten. In most cases, symptoms develop within 60 minutes but, for a small percentage of people, symptoms are delayed by 12 hours or more. The same may be true for individuals with gluten sensitivity.
Some of the most common symptoms of gluten exposure include:
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Irritability
- Mouth ulcers
- Skin rash
Once you’ve been glutened you may find yourself eager to avoid the experience in the future. If it happens, pay attention to your symptoms so you can recognize the problem more quickly next time. Symptoms of accidental gluten exposure typically follow a predictable pattern, though the pattern will be unique to you and your own experience.
The severity of symptoms may vary depending on the degree of gluten exposure. A minor glutening may only trigger one or two symptoms while a major exposure could bring about several days of unpleasant side effects. If you pay attention to your symptoms and establish a pattern, you may eventually learn how to follow the timeline backwards to identify the source.
How Soon Do Symptoms Start?
Again, everyone is different when it comes to symptoms of accidental gluten exposure. While allergy symptoms typically develop within minutes, symptoms can be delayed in people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. The length of the delay may depend on your degree of sensitivity and how strict you’ve been about following a gluten free diet.
If you’re extremely sensitive to even trace amounts of gluten, you may experience symptoms within minutes of ingestion – similar to an allergy. In many cases, however, symptoms don’t develop until one to twelve hours after exposure. For some, symptoms take days or even weeks to manifest.
It’s important to remember that even if you don’t experience symptoms of gluten exposure as a celiac sufferer, your intestines could still be damaged.
In a study in 2007, 49 adults with celiac disease were exposed to varying amounts of gluten for three months while following an otherwise strict gluten-free diet. Only one patient who was exposed to 10mg of gluten per day developed symptoms, but those consuming 50mg a day developed small but significant amounts of damage to the villi lining the small intestine.
While symptoms of accidental gluten exposure may resolve within a few days, it could take anywhere from three to six months for the intestines to heal. If you’re an older adult, the timeline could be extended to as long as two years.
Tips for Recovery
The bad news is, once you’ve been glutened there isn’t a lot you can do. For many people, symptoms resolve within a few days, though some may linger for a week or more.
You may have heard that over-the-counter supplements like gluten-digesting enzymes and probiotics can help speed recovery from accidental gluten exposure, but there’s no scientific evidence that supports the efficacy of these measures. The best thing you can do is treat individual symptoms as you normally would, get back on the wagon with your gluten free diet, and stay hydrated.
While people with gluten sensitivity may only experience minor, short-lived symptoms of gluten exposure, glutening is much more serious for celiac sufferers. As a celiac disease patient, you should never cheat on your gluten free diet. Even if you’re symptom-free, you’re still doing damage by ingesting gluten.
Fortunately, adhering to a gluten free diet is not as complicated as it once was. Prepared gluten free foods make following a gluten free diet easier than ever and they are more readily available than ever before. Stock your pantry with gluten free staples to ensure that you always have something safe on hand when you need it.
