Diagnosing Nonceliac Gluten Sensitivity in Children

Nonceliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is marked by intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms associated with gluten ingestion in people without celiac disease or wheat allergy. Eliminating gluten from the diet is increasingly popular in adults and children with abdominal symptoms.

To determine the prevalence of NCGS in children, researchers evaluated over 1100 children with functional gastrointestinal disorders (and no celiac disease or wheat allergy) and conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial among the 28 children who screened positive for NCGS (i.e., reported a 30% symptom reduction on a gluten-free diet). The 28 crossover trial participants, who remained on a gluten-free diet, were randomly assigned to a diet additive of…