What is the most likely cause of abdominal symptoms worsening with pasta consumption in a 28-year-old male?

Celiac disease is characterized by an inappropriate immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When individuals with celiac disease consume foods containing gluten, such as pasta, their immune system reacts negatively, leading to inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. This results in various abdominal symptoms, including bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and malabsorption, which may worsen after eating gluten-containing foods.

The timing of symptoms following pasta consumption is significant, as pasta is a common food that contains gluten. Therefore, when a person with celiac disease eats pasta, they are likely to experience an exacerbation of symptoms due to this immune response.

In contrast, lactose intolerance primarily leads to symptoms following the consumption of dairy products, while gluten sensitivity, although related to gluten consumption, typically does not involve the same autoimmune response or intestinal damage seen in celiac disease. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) usually presents with symptoms related to heartburn and regurgitation rather than direct abdominal distress from food types such as pasta.