Can Gluten Weaken Your Immune System? Debunking the Myth for Coeliacs
Introduction
Recently, I came across a common myth being discussed on social media (which is fertile ground for myths!), and it’s one I feel needs to be addressed. Some people believe that being "glutened" (inadvertently consuming gluten) can weaken the immune system and lead to issues like ear infections, eye infections, or even severe colds. While I understand the concern behind this, the idea that gluten weakens the immune system is simply not accurate—and it's important for us to separate fact from fiction, especially when it comes to managing Coeliac disease.
As a Coeliac myself and a Chartered Chemist, I wanted to take this opportunity to break down exactly how gluten affects the body, what Coeliac disease means for the immune system, and why consuming gluten doesn’t lead to a weakened immune system.
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Coeliac Disease: An Autoimmune Condition, Not Immunodeficiency
To start, it’s important to understand that Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder. When someone with Coeliac disease consumes gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye), their immune system overreacts by attacking the lining of the small intestine. This immune response causes inflammation and damage to the villi—the tiny, finger-like structures that help absorb nutrients from food. Over time, this can lead to nutrient deficiencies and a range of associated health problems.
But here's the key point: Coeliac disease does not cause immunodeficiency. In other words, it doesn’t inherently weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infections like colds, flu, or bacterial infections.
What Is Immunodeficiency?
Immunodeficiency refers to a condition where the immune system’s overall ability to fight infections is compromised. People with immunodeficiency disorders are more vulnerable to infections because their immune systems can’t respond effectively. Coeliac disease, while an autoimmune disorder, does not result in immunodeficiency. Instead, it causes the immune system to misfire and attack the body’s own tissues in response to gluten. This reaction is specific to gluten and doesn’t indicate a weakened immune system overall.
Does Getting "Glutened" Make You More Susceptible to Illness?
Many people in the Coeliac community have reported feeling unwell after being "glutened"—which is perfectly valid. Gluten exposure can cause uncomfortable and even severe symptoms in those with Coeliac disease, including (but not limited to):
Gastrointestinal distress (bloating, cramping, diarrhoea)
Fatigue and brain fog
Joint pain
Headaches
These symptoms occur because the body is launching an immune response against gluten. However, this reaction is localised to the small intestine and related processes. It does not affect the body’s ability to fight infections like colds, ear infections, or eye infections. So, while being glutened can make you feel generally unwell, it’s not correct to assume it’s weakening your immune system or directly causing infections.
Why Some People Link Gluten to Infections
It’s understandable why people might believe there’s a connection between gluten ingestion and getting sick. When you’re glutened, your body is under stress, and that can lead to a feeling of being "run down." This general malaise might make it feel like you're more prone to catching colds or infections. But this is more likely due to the body's immediate response to gluten—causing discomfort and inflammation—rather than any real compromise in immune function.
Another factor could be that some Coeliacs, particularly those who were diagnosed later in life or had the disease untreated for years, may have had prolonged periods of malnutrition (this was the case with me). If your body has been deprived of key nutrients due to poor absorption, this could have weakened your overall health and ability to fight off infections at that time. However, once someone adopts a strict gluten-free diet and the gut heals, the immune system should function normally.
Nutrient Deficiencies and Their Role in Immunity
One area where Coeliac disease can indirectly affect the immune system is through nutrient deficiencies. Since untreated Coeliac disease can impair nutrient absorption, people may become deficient in important vitamins and minerals like:
Iron: Leading to anaemia and fatigue.
Vitamin D: This plays a role in immune function.
Zinc: This is crucial for wound healing and immune responses.
These deficiencies can make a person more susceptible to infections or contribute to a general feeling of being unwell. However, this is not the same as gluten directly weakening the immune system. Once a gluten-free diet is adopted and the gut heals, nutrient absorption improves, and any deficiencies can be corrected with proper nutrition and supplementation.
The Science Behind Gluten and Immune Function
From a scientific perspective, when gluten is consumed by someone with Coeliac disease, the immune system mistakenly identifies it as a threat and launches an attack. This attack is directed specifically at the small intestine, leading to inflammation and damage there. But crucially, this does not compromise the immune system’s ability to fight off external threats like bacteria or viruses.
In fact, after following a gluten-free diet and allowing the intestines to heal, Coeliacs generally don’t have a higher risk of infections compared to the general population. The idea that consuming gluten weakens the immune system as a whole is not supported by scientific evidence.
Immune-Related Issues and Coeliac Disease
It’s also worth noting that Coeliac disease can increase the risk of developing other autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes or autoimmune thyroid disease. This happens because once the immune system is triggered by gluten, it can sometimes become overactive and mistakenly attack other parts of the body. However, this is an example of the immune system going into overdrive, not becoming weak.
For those with multiple autoimmune conditions, managing overall health can feel like a balancing act, but again, it’s not the same as being immunocompromised or more prone to common infections.
Gluten and the Immune System—What’s the Real Connection?
So, to sum up, ingesting gluten doesn’t weaken the immune system. While it can trigger an unpleasant autoimmune response in people with Coeliac disease, this reaction is specific to the gluten protein and primarily affects the digestive system. Feeling sick or run down after gluten exposure is normal for Coeliacs, but this isn’t the same as having a weakened immune system that’s unable to fight off infections.
If you’ve been glutened and feel like you’ve caught a cold or developed an infection, it’s more likely coincidental—or possibly a result of feeling worn out from the gluten exposure itself—rather than gluten directly causing your immune system to weaken.
Share Your Thoughts!
Have you ever experienced gluten exposure and felt like it made you more susceptible to illness? Do you have any myths or concerns about gluten that you’d like me to debunk? Let’s keep the conversation going—leave a comment below and share your experiences!
Warm regards,
The Celiac Scientist