GlutenDetect for Home Use: Is Your Diet Really Gluten-Free? Find Out in 15 Minutes!

Summary: Celiac.com 02/01/2023 - A recent study demonstrated that people who are on a gluten-free diet are often exposed to gluten contamination – in fact 96% of the people tested in that study had a gluten exposure at least once during the 4-week testing period and these were twice as likely to happen on weekends. That same study did not find any difference in frequency of inadvertent gluten exposure between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals so it’s impossible to rely on symptoms alone to tell when gluten has been ingested. 75% of Celiacs with intestinal damage are asymptomatic, so there is also no correlation between symptoms and extent of damage. For many people, following a gluten-free diet can be important for health reasons, and it can also dramatically improve quality of life. Being diligent about what and where you eat is clearly only one part of the picture – given all the data listed above it’s also important to monitor yourself. Gluten Detect is the first and only test that allows you to self-monitor your level of compliance with your gluten-free diet. The test measures the presence of gluten immunogenic peptides (GIP) which are fragments of gluten proteins that are resistant to gastrointestinal digestion, and which, although found in anyone who ingests gluten, trigger immunologic reactions in celiac patients. Gluten Detect is similar to a COVID/pregnancy test in the way it is performed. If a single green line appears in the test cassette window, it means that no gluten was detected in the sample, but if two lines appear –one green and one red, gluten has been detected, indicating a gluten intake within the preceding hours (urine) or days (stools). Gluten Detect only takes between 15-30 minutes to perform and is meant to be a self-monitoring test so you can use it in the privacy of your own home to determine whether you’ve ingested gluten recently. Regular monitoring will help ensure you are able to stay truly gluten-free. There are two forms of the test, one for testing urine and the other for testing stool and these two tests are complementary After ingestion, gluten fragments are excreted into urine relatively quickly, whereas they persist in the intestine for days. Urine therefore is most appropriate for determining very recent contamination over the previous 15 hours whereas stool is most appropriate for monitoring compliance over a longer period of time (previous 1-6 days). Gluten Detect is very sensitive and very specific for GIP - the test can detect intakes from 50 mg gluten/day, which is the smallest amount of gluten that is harmful to celiac patients according to scientific consensus. The table below summarizes the differences between these two versions: Even if you have no symptoms, are very diligent, and believe you are eating a completely gluten-free diet, its still very possible that you are being exposed to gluten Although many patients’ base their assessment of their compliance with the diet on the absence of symptoms, they may still have been ingesting gluten without knowing it. These small gluten intakes are only detectable through gluten fragments excreted in stool and urine. Even a small amount of gluten can cause intestinal damage in people with Celiac Disease, regardless of whether it results in symptoms. Gluten Detect is a tool you can use to check for this silent consumption of gluten and also to help determine where it may be coming from. Also since many celiacs who eat gluten don’t experience symptoms, relying on them alone is not a good way to determine potential gluten consumption In fact according to recent clinical trials, almost 80% of GIP-positive patients ( based on detecting traces of gluten in stool) who say they follow a gluten-free diet do not suffer from symptoms. Another study shows that almost all celiacs who eat less than half a gram of gluten, equivalent to a crumb, have no symptoms. Based on all this recent data is not advisable to base compliance with the diet exclusively on the absence of apparent symptoms, because although small intakes of gluten go unnoticed, the damage caused by small, continuous intakes of gluten is cumulative and in the long-term prevents the intestinal mucosa from recovering. These damaged villi lose their ability to absorb nutrients and increases the probability of future more serious diseases such as lymphomas, autoimmune diseases, and bone weakness. Gluten Detect Recommended Use According to recent clinical studies, when three urine samples are measured throughout the week and the result is negative, there is more than a 97% chance that the intestine is in good condition. Similarly, two negative stool tests over a week would indicate good compliance with the gluten-free diet. Our recommendation therefore is to measure 3 urine samples, preferably one of them on the weekend, taking the first urine in the morning, or 2 stool samples over a week with 3-4 days between them. The tests should be used on a regular basis (weekly, every two weeks, monthly…) to monitor compliance with the gluten-free diet over time. Its important to include weekend monitoring points in your regimen since weekends are the time when many people eat outside of their home and consequently the time when the most dietary risks are generally taken. Based on a number of recently published clinical studies, gluten intake, whether voluntary or involuntary, is actually relatively common among celiac patients. Following a gluten-free diet day after day is difficult, but, in any case, it is important to assess the degree of exposure to gluten in daily habits or changing environmental circumstances (for example, after meals away from home). Know for sure - put your diet to the test with Gluten Detect. Visit our site for more info.