masses with coeliac disease often have to espouse strict diets to forefend middleman with gluten , but what happens if a person with this consideration kiss someone else who has just wipe out a gluten - fulfill collation ? This question may seem trivial , but it causes anxiety among many masses living with celiac disease . Thankfully , new research has challenge this worry : it seems you could enjoy a smooch with a gluten - eater , even if they have just eat .

coeliac diseaseis an autoimmune upset that affects around 1 percent of the population . It is typically characterized by digestive issues after ingesting intellectual nourishment bear gluten . This can admit abdominal bother , dyspepsia , and diarrhea . For citizenry with coeliac disease , gluten uptake can cause intestinal damage even if it does not cause immediate symptom .

This is why people living with this condition go to great length to control their diet and the types of food they are exposed to . Similar to people living with nut allergies , the vexation of contamination can become quiteoverwhelming . Ultimately , it is easier for the great unwashed with coeliac disease to ensure their food is gluten - free when they make it at nursing home rather than when it is prepared by other people . As such , eating out can become quite a concern for people with coeliac disease .

“ Everyone worries about whether gluten is getting into their food at a restaurant , but no one really looked at what happens when you kiss afterwards , ” Dr Anne Lee , assistant prof of nutritional medicine at Columbia University , said in astatement .

“ The advice we yield about kiss and celiac disease was based on forethought and assumptions . We were using our best judgment . I felt it was of import to do inquiry to see if there was any existent risk . ”

The extent to which people with celiac disease worry about a contaminating kiss was identify in a field from2022 , which showed that over two - third of their participant reported that the condition impact their date life “ a moderate amount ” , “ a outstanding hand ” , or caused “ a lot ” of concern . Around 52 percent of the participants felt uncomfortable about going out on dates , and 39 percent were specifically worried about kiss their partner due to their coeliac disease .

In this late two - part survey , which will be portray today at Digestive Disease Week ® ( DDW ) 2025 , 10 couples were enrol by Lee and colleagues to probe the wallop kiss had on celiac disease . Each couple had one partner who had the condition . In the subject area , the non - celiac partner eat 10 saltine crackers and then kissed their partner for 10 irregular . However , in one session , the partners wait five bit before they kiss , while in the other , they wassail 4 ounce of H2O before they kissed .

In both situation , researchers regain that the gluten transfer – measured in the spit of the partner with coeliac disease – was minimal in the majority of participants . Gluten was still found in the saliva of participant who snog their married person after they drank water , but in all cases , the amount was less than 20 component part per million – this is the level countenance in gluten - barren products and is weigh dependable .

Understanding how gluten can fleet through kissing is useful not just for hoi polloi with celiac disease but also non - coeliac gluten sensitivity . This gluten intolerance can lead to less dangerous symptoms , such as bloating , fatigue , or brain fog , after eating gluten .

“ For clinician , we can now say to affected role , ‘ You do n’t have to go to extreme measuring , ’ ” Lee add .

“ Patients with celiac disease can be more relaxed , hump that the risk of gluten cross - impinging through kissing a cooperator who has consumed gluten can be bring down to safe levels if solid food is keep an eye on by a modest glass of weewee . ”

The subject field will be presented today atDigestive Disease Week ® ( DDW ) 2025 .