Can Gluten Sensitivity Go Away? The Surprising Truth Behind the Research
This week I had the pleasure of speaking to the Probus Club in Stratford about the gut and the microbiota. At the end of the presentation, someone asked me a great question:
"Do you think gluten sensitivity can go away?"
My answer? A resounding yes—and here’s why.
What Gluten Sensitivity Isn’t
First, let’s make a clear distinction: this discussion is not about celiac disease, a serious autoimmune condition that requires strict lifelong avoidance of gluten. Instead, we’re talking about non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), which is often self-diagnosed and poorly understood—even among clinicians.
Many people report gut symptoms when consuming gluten, but multiple studies suggest that gluten may not be the real culprit.
The Research: Gluten vs. Fructans vs. Placebo
Let’s look at a key study design. Participants who self-identify as gluten intolerant are given bars across different testing periods. Each bar contains one of the following:
Gluten
Fructans (a fermentable carbohydrate or FODMAP found in wheat and other grains like rye and barley)
Placebo (neither gluten nor fructans)
The results?
The highest symptom levels occurred with fructan-containing bars.
Placebo bars (with no gluten or fructans) caused the second most symptoms.
And gluten-containing bars led to the fewest symptoms overall.
This finding is consistent with other studies showing that what we think of as “gluten sensitivity” may often be fructan intolerance or even a nocebo response (symptoms triggered by the expectation of harm).
The Nocebo Effect: Belief Drives Symptoms
One study revealed that when participants were told they were eating gluten—even when they weren’t—they developed symptoms.
And when they were told a food had no gluten—but it actually did—they experienced far fewer issues.
This highlights a major role for the brain in gut symptom perception.
Why This Gives Me Hope
If gluten isn’t the true cause for many people, then the story changes. Unlike an allergy or autoimmune reaction, which typically requires lifelong avoidance, gut-based symptoms driven by FODMAPs, gut-brain interactions, or belief systems can improve.
I’ve seen this in clinical practice. With gut-directed hypnotherapy, nervous system retraining, and slowly reintroducing foods, many people can reclaim gluten and other foods into their diet.
This is incredibly hopeful for people living with highly restricted diets, social limitations, and fear around food.
So—Can Gluten Sensitivity Go Away?
Yes.
Not only is it possible—it’s more common than many think.
And for those people: less restriction, more enjoyment, and better health outcomes await.