I’ve recently become interested in tracing my family origins – all four sides lol. My biological parents as well as those of my step-parents. You would be amazed at what you can learn about your family through ancestry sites.
Your DNA contains more information than you would have ever thought too. While DNA tests can reveal details about your ancestors and your roots, they can also help you understand your body. For example, it is possible to test for gluten intolerance in your DNA.
That is because the genes HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 are associated with gluten sensitivity. In the United States, it is believed that around 35% of the population has one or both genes, and about 3% actually develop celiac disease.
What is celiac disease?
This disease is an autoimmune disorder that will cause your body to attack parts of the intestinal tract. Gluten is very dangerous for a person who has celiac disease as it will lead to chronic inflammation of the intestines. Additionally, the villi, which are used to absorb nutrients, will end up flattened.
This disease also comes with other symptoms such as abdominal swelling, chronic diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Gluten can be found in all sorts of foods, such as rye, wheat or barley products. If undiagnosed, this disease can lead to several other problems such as infertility, migraines, joint pain, anemia, malnutrition.
Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance only affects 1 percent of the population. However, there are too many persons who have various levels of gluten sensitivity. This is known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and it can be found in approximately 5 percent of the population.
DNA testing for gluten sensitivity
A DNA testing kit could help you find out if you are sensitive when it comes to gluten. You will need to find out whether you are carrying the gene. Additionally, some sort of trigger is necessary, and this can be anything from birth to influenza or menopause.
There are a couple of risk factors for celiac disease. For example, if you have a family member that has celiac or NCGS, there is a bigger chance that you might have it as well. Other risk factors are having colitis, type 1 diabetes, Addison’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis or down syndrome.
Luckily for us, there are numerous genetic tests that could offer accurate results about gluten sensitivity. If you want to find out whether you have celiac disease, you must get a genetic test and see whether you have one or both of those genes. Even if you have them, you might be just a carrier. You will need to be tested for inflammatory markers as well.
A DNA test could save you from a lot of pain. Usually, it takes 6 to 10 years after the apparition of symptoms to be diagnosed with celiac disease. That happens because many people have non-classic symptoms of the disease.
Have you done a DNA test to research certain genes that may be prevalent in your family? Which service have you found that worked best for you?
