The villi are not attacked by gluten. Gluten only triggers the reaction of the lymphocytes, which thus are become “licensed to kill” (in fact they are called NK cells, where NK stands for Natural Killers), migrate into the lining of the gut, and destroy the cells of the lining by producing chemicals that make them… Read more »
(Updated .)Keyword: villi
How is it possible for someone to have damaged villi and not have symptoms?
We actually don’t know why some people have damaged villi without symptoms. It’s possibly because the extent of the damaged villi is small and limited to the area of the biopsies, and the rest of the intestine (there are seven yards of it!) is compensating for the damaged area.
(Updated .)Any idea how long it takes for the villi in the small intestine to become blunt from this disease?
It takes a very short time for blunting to occur, often just a few days.
(Updated .)Do those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity run the same risk of damaging their villi if they eat gluten?
No. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the body acts to destroy its own tissues. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity has no known association with an autoimmune reaction and typically results in gastrointestinal symptoms, like IBS, fatigue or headaches.
(Updated .)How long does it take for the villi to heal themselves?
The amount of time it takes the villi to heal themselves is highly variable. It can take from 1-2 weeks or several years for most. Unfortunately, complete healing never occurs for some.
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