Gluten sensitivity runs in my family. (I'm not using the new official term: "non-celiac gluten sensitivity or NCGS" because we weren't officially tested for celiac disease and won't ever know). I believe there is a genetic component to gluten sensitivity that has yet to be confirmed. There are many researchers and doctors who are focused on the world of gluten like Dr. Alessio Fasano, author of Gluten Freedom; and Dr. Rodney Ford, author of numerous books and most recently Dermatitis Eczema: Gluten-Wheat - Solving the Eczema Puzzle. This is new territory and the science behind gluten sensitivity is advancing. Here's how gluten sensitivity plays out in my family...
I have gluten sensitivity. My daughter has gluten sensitivity. My mother has gluten sensitivity. My father has gluten sensitivity. And, my daughter's father (my husband) also has gluten sensitivity. The implication is clear. This diagram shows my daughter at the center as she is my focus and motivation to help other families and build awareness.
I was the first in my family to be diagnosed with gluten sensitivity. The doctor recommended that my family members also be tested because her experience was that gluten sensitivity runs in families. Further, a child has a stronger predisposition for gluten sensitivity and their reactions may be more severe if both parents also have gluten sensitivity. This certainly is true for us: the living example of gluten sensitivity with a genetic component.
I know of many families like ours. I also know of countless families who have one member diagnosed with gluten sensitivity but the other members don't make the connection to their own health issues. There is a wide spectrum of over 300 documented gluten-related disorders, which means there are many different symptoms and not each person has the same. Some people don't even exhibit intestinal complaints. The gluten-related disorders in our family vary from eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus (autoimmune disease), diverticulitis, IBS, migraines, tantrums, attention issues, brain fog, and the list goes on.
When it comes to gluten sensitivity in our family, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.