What role does Zöliakie Test play in Sport?

A celiac test can play a significant role in sports, as undiagnosed celiac disease or gluten sensitivity may impair athletic performance through fatigue, malabsorption of key nutrients (iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D), and chronic inflammation. The medical gold standard includes serology (tTG-IgA) and, if positive, duodenal biopsy; a genetic test for HLA-DQ2/DQ8 can rule out celiac disease with high certainty but cannot confirm it. Direct-to-consumer DNA tests, such as those from MyBody-X, only indicate genetic predisposition, not current disease status. For athletes experiencing unexplained fatigue, bloating, or iron deficiency, a clinical test is advisable. Evidence for diagnostic accuracy is strong (human-strong), while genetic risk assessment relies on GWAS data. Importantly, a positive genetic test alone does not justify a gluten-free diet without medical evaluation. In summary, celiac testing helps identify a treatable cause of performance decline but must be interpreted in a clinical context.