Gluten-free diet

A dietary pattern that excludes gluten, proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye. It is medically necessary for celiac disease and can also be chosen for other reasons.

Celiac disease: An autoimmune disorder in which gluten exposure damages the small intestine in genetically susceptible people. A lifelong gluten-free diet is its only established treatment.
Gluten: A group of storage proteins in wheat and related grains that gives dough elasticity. This is the protein group the diet removes.
Wheat: A cereal grain whose gluten proteins make it suitable for bread and many other foods. It is a major source of gluten in everyday foods.
Low-FODMAP diet: A short-term dietary approach that limits fermentable carbohydrates to help identify triggers of irritable bowel symptoms. It may reduce symptoms attributed to gluten when wheat carbohydrates are responsible.
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: A condition in which gluten-containing foods trigger symptoms without celiac disease or wheat allergy. Some people avoid gluten for symptoms despite lacking celiac disease.
Gliadin: A component of gluten proteins in wheat that includes peptides involved in celiac disease. Some gliadin fragments trigger the immune response in celiac disease.
Barley: A cereal grain containing hordein, a gluten protein harmful to people with celiac disease. Malt and many barley products are incompatible with the diet.
Paleolithic diet: A dietary pattern modeled on foods thought to have been eaten by Paleolithic humans, typically excluding grains. It excludes gluten-containing grains but is broader than medically required gluten avoidance.
Wheat allergy: An immune reaction to proteins in wheat that can cause symptoms ranging from hives to anaphylaxis. Avoiding wheat may be necessary, but wheat allergy is distinct from gluten-related disorders.
HLA-DQ2: A human leukocyte antigen variant that presents gluten-derived peptides to immune cells and is associated with celiac disease. It helps explain why gluten triggers celiac disease in genetically susceptible people.

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