Background

The wheat free diet is a way of eating where all products containing wheat are eliminated. Some people allergic to wheat may also be allergic to gluten, and thus need to significantly restrict their dietary intake.

Wheat allergy refers specifically to adverse reactions involving immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to one or more protein fractions of wheat, including albumin, globulin, gliadin and glutenin (gluten). The majority of IgE-mediated reactions to wheat involve the albumin and globulin fractions. Gliadin and gluten may also induce IgE-mediated reactions rarely.

The incidence of wheat allergy has been investigated over the last few decades in an attempt to learn more about the specific interactions between wheat proteins and immunoglobulins. Current research indicates that wheat proteins are very allergenic, meaning that even extremely small amounts are capable of activating the immune response in allergic individuals. Currently, there are no accurate figures describing the prevalence of wheat allergy. Clinical experience suggests that wheat allergy is relatively uncommon. However, it may be more common in certain subgroups, e.g., wheat allergy is responsible for occupational asthma in up to 30% of individuals in the baking industry. Infants and children are more likely to be allergic to wheat than adults. In many instances, allergies can be outgrown and wheat products can be tolerated later in life.

Symptoms of wheat allergy can vary among individuals, ranging from bothersome but relatively unserious symptoms such as rash, hives, or gastrointestinal distress to a life threatening anaphylactic reaction. In many instances, allergic symptoms do not appear until after physical exertion, and is referred to as an exercise induced allergy.

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Safety Safety definitions

Pregnancy And Lactation: There is insufficient reliable evidence about the safety of the wheat-free diet in pregnancy/lactation. There is no reason to expect safety issues.

Effectiveness Effectiveness definitions

There is insufficient reliable evidence about the effectiveness of the wheat-free diet.

Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Dosing & administration

Adverse effects

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

None known.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

None known.

Interactions with foods

None known.

Interactions with lab tests

Interactions with diseases

Mechanism of action

The premise of the wheat free diet is avoiding wheat to avoid inducing allergic reactions in individuals allergic to wheat.