麩質為一種常見於小麥、黑麥、大麥、燕麥等穀物之蛋白質。它給予麵包和意粉有嚼勁的質感。但是，某些人會對麩質產生不良反應，包括皮炎、濕疹、甚至服食後引致肚瀉等。醫學上一般對因服食麩質而引致之腸道炎症統稱為乳糜瀉。該症為自身免疫症而非過敏症或不耐症，會影響身體其他部份。麩質亦可在個別例子引起過敏症或不耐症。真正的過敏症會影響到免疫系統之反應，使抗體IgE形成，導致各項病癥，例如口腔發麻、麻疹、嘴唇腫脹以及喉嚨收縮。嚴重個案更會引致可致命的過敏性休克以及呼吸困難等病癥，需要即時診治。營養師或合資格之醫護人員可度身訂制餐單，以確認是否患有食物過敏症。
非IgE抗體導致之麩質過敏症則可引致比較輕微之不良反應。癥狀一般比較輕微，且為慢性，病癥包括噁心、疲倦、皮疹、關節痛、嘔吐、以及腹瀉等等。由於麩質存在於我們日常飲食的很多穀物中，我們很難達至完全沒有麩質的飲食。很多父母皆有感很難為有麩質過敏症的子女選擇食物，也為他們跟同齡孩童比較體重較輕而感到憂慮。父母如對子女之營養感到關注時，應向營養師或合資格之醫護人員尋求專業意見。
Non IgE-mediated gluten hypersensitivity is a milder form of the adverse reactions. The symptoms are less severe and usually developed over time, for example nausea, tiredness, skin rash, joint pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Since gluten widely exists in many cereal staples in our daily lives, a gluten-free diet is often thought to be difficult to achieve. Many parents have trouble finding suitable foods for their children who have gluten-hypersensitivity. It is more worrying when their children appeared leaner than others in the same age. Parents who are concerned about their child’s nutrition should seek a qualified dietitian or nutritionist for professional advice.
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Gluten can also cause allergy and intolerance in individuals. True allergy involved the immunological response which anti- bodies (IgE) are produced to trigger series of symptoms including tingling of the mouth, hives, and swelling of the lips and constriction of the throat. In some cases, life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis, for example, difficulties in breathing may occur and required immediate medical treatment. An exclusion diet under the supervision of a dietitian or other qualified healthcare professional is required to confirm a food allergy.
