The expert spoke about the symptoms and treatment of gluten intolerance.

The medical name for gluten intolerance is celiac disease. On March 1, Adelina Muryasova, the managing director and co-founder of the GASTRO CLINIC, told Izvestia about her symptoms and treatment methods.Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body reacts to gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley) by inflammation and damage to the walls of the small intestine. According to statistics, the problem affects about 1.4% of the world's population, the expert emphasized.

"According to doctors, the disease can manifest itself at any age, even if for the time being you had no problems eating fresh bread made from wheat flour or barley porridge. At the same time, celiac disease is two to three times more common in women than in men," Muryasova said.

Among the key symptoms of the disease are diarrhea and frequent digestive disorders, bloating and increased gas formation, cases of sudden vomiting after eating, as well as a decrease or complete lack of appetite.

The expert noted that the first stage of diagnosis is laboratory tests, in particular, an analysis for specific antibodies to gluten. In addition, a genetic test can be performed.

"Alas, there is no magic pill for celiac disease. The only effective method is a lifelong gluten—free diet. With strict adherence to food restrictions, after five to six months, the damaged mucosa usually recovers and the symptoms disappear," Muryasova said.

According to her, cereals prohibited for consumption in case of illness can be found in different products, so it is worth carefully studying the labels in stores, and in cafes and restaurants to clarify what flour the dishes are made of.

On February 22, Muryasova told Izvestia about the causes of lactose intolerance. According to her, the enzyme lactase is needed to break down carbohydrates. In case of its deficiency, the body cannot digest lactose, then bloating, diarrhea and gas formation may occur. Stress or hormonal changes can trigger a decrease in enzyme production, the expert noted.