title: Absence of somatization in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In contrast to coeliac disease (CD), the mechanism behind non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is unclear. The aims of the study were to measure the presence of somatization, personality traits, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life in NCGS individuals compared with CD patients and healthy controls, and to compare the response to gluten challenge between NCGS and CD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 22 CD patients and 31 HLA-DQ2+ NCGS patients without CD, all on a gluten-free diet. All but five CD patients were challenged orally for 3 days with gluten; symptom registration was performed during challenge. A comparison group of 40 healthy controls was included. Patients and healthy controls completed questionnaires regarding anxiety, depression, neuroticism and lie, hostility and aggression, alexithymia and health locus of control, physical complaints, and health-related quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NCGS patients reported more abdominal (p = 0.01) and non-abdominal (p < 0.01) symptoms after gluten challenge than CD patients. There were no significant differences between CD and NCGS patients regarding personality traits, level of somatization, quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The somatization level was low in CD and NCGS groups. Symptom increase after gluten challenge was not related to personality in NCGS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NCGS patients did not exhibit a tendency for general somatization. Personality and quality of life did not differ between NCGS and CD patients, and were mostly at the same level as in healthy controls. NCGS patients reported more symptoms than CD patients after gluten challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, Norway. margit.brottveit@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brottveit
authors.forename: Per Olav
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Vandvik
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wojniusz
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Løvik
authors.forename: Knut Ea
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lundin
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; C053186:HLA-DQ2 antigen; D005983:Glutens