They love each other, but between them, a doubt hovered: what if a simple kiss (after biting into a sandwich) could trigger a reaction in the other? If one partner has gluten intolerance (or celiac disease), is kissing safe? Until now, this question had no clear answer, but an Italian study provides one today.
No trace of gluten persists in lovers’ saliva
Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance, is a chronic, autoimmune intestinal condition caused by the consumption of gluten, a gliadin-derived protein found in various grain products. This disease manifests itself in individuals with a genetic predisposition. According to Afdiag (the French Association of Gluten Intolerants), one in 100 people can develop celiac disease in Europe. There is currently no treatment to treat this disease. Everything is therefore essentially based on avoiding foods that contain it. This diet must be strictly followed, and for life… hence the reluctance to kiss your partner after a meal.
Conducted by the Giannina Gaslini Institute in Genoa, this unprecedented research suggests that a kiss is not a source of danger for people with celiac disease (provided of course that basic hygiene rules are respected!). The study, published in the scientific journal Nutrientswas conducted on 20 couples in which one of the partners lived with a strict intolerance to gluten.
Each couple was observed in everyday conditions: unaffected people consumed foods rich in gluten, such as bread or pasta, before kissing their partner. Saliva samples were then taken from the two individuals, before and after contact.
Result: no trace of gluten was detected in the saliva of sick partners after the kiss. “This is reassuring data, because it allows us to deconstruct a common fear among patients and their families”explains researcher Francesca Fulceri, who coordinated the study.
Can couples, one of whom is celiac, live normally?
For the researcher, couples no longer have any reluctance to kiss, if they feel like it. “Under normal living conditions, kissing does not transmit gluten. The important thing is to avoid contact immediately after ingesting gluten if visible residues are present in the mouth”.
So these results are valid as long as you respect classic hygiene habits such as rinsing your mouth, with a glass of water, just after eating (which is what we wish for everyone). Clearly, gluten does not circulate freely in saliva, contrary to what some feared. Information that fills a scientific void.
Until now, recommendations on this subject varied: some associations urged caution, others affirmed that a simple kiss posed no problem. This vagueness maintained a climate of uncertainty, especially among young adults discovering their illness. So this is no longer the case.“We must live normally, without psychosis. Celiac disease imposes strict dietary constraints, but it must not isolate people emotionallyconcludes the researcher.