Posts Tagged ‘celiac disease’

Genetic modification of wheat responsible for increase in gluten sensitivity

Friday, September 24th, 2010

New research claims that the toxicity of wheat gluten potentially worsened by cross breeding different strains…

suggests that modern wheat breeding practices may have led to an increased exposure to CD epitopes

Source:

Theor Appl Genet. 2010 Jul 28.

Recent research from across the globe shows a prevalence toward the increase in celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.  We know the problem is growing.  The big question on every one’s mind is – WHY?  The following is a list of some of the potential possibilities.

  1. Genetic manipulation of grains – no long term research has been done on safety, yet we assume these foods are OK contrary to common sense.   Many studies show these foods to be dangerous.
  2. The pervasive use of grains in the food supply.  Almost all packaged foods contains grain either as a main ingredient or an agent to alter food texture, viscosity, etc.  More grain exposure = more people reacting to grain.
  3. The use of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, etc.  Much like genetically modified foods, these chemicals are used under the assumption that they are safe.
  4. Over use of antibiotics.  Although life saving if one has a bacterial infection, the over utilization of these drugs contributes to a change in the normal healthy gut flora thus weakening the immune system.  Additionally, we feed them to chickens, pigs, cows, and fish that are being raised for human food consumption.
  5. Anti-acid medications.  Nexium, Tums, Prilosec, Rolaids, and more, these drugs suppress acid in the stomach.  Acid suppression weakens the immune system and leads to wide spread malabsorption of nutrients.
  6. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS).  These medications contribute to the destruction of the gastric and intestinal lining thus weakening immunity and predisposing one to intestinal permeability (leaky gut syndrome)
  7. Medications in general.  Many OTC and prescription medications contain grain based adhesives.  Sick from gluten?  Take this pill (with gluten in it) and you will get better?!?
  8. Grain is cheap food.  The government subsidizes grain making it much less expensive to use as a staple food.
  9. Commercialization.  Everywhere you look, there is a billboard, TV commercial, nutritionist, Food Guide Pyramid, etc telling us how healthy whole grains are.
  10. Degradation of the eduction system.  Public schools focus on teaching students how to pass standardized tests.  Nutrition and physical education are given minimal time in the classroom.  Many of those teaching nutrition do not lead by example thus devaluing the lesson.  The nutrition basics taught focus on a Food Guide Pyramid based in grain.

Corn Gluten Damages Those with Gluten Sensitivity

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

A Study published in the journal Gut identified that corn gluten caused an inflammatory reaction in patients with celiac disease.

“The observation that corn gluten challenge induced an abnormal NO reaction in some of our patients with CD is intriguing as maize is considered safe and is recommended as the substitute cereal in a gluten free diet.”

Source:

Gut. 2005; 54:769-774.

Gluten Free Society’s Stance

Corn is a grain.  Corn has gluten.  Many believe that corn gluten does not induce damage the same way that wheat, barley, and rye do.  The fact of the matter is, gluten has not been studied adequately.  Most of what we know about celiac disease and gluten have to do with gliadin (the gluten found in wheat only).  As a physician with 10 years of experience treating gluten sensitivity, I have seen corn be a severe problem for the majority of gluten intolerant patients.  Many claim that they don’t react to corn and feel fine after eating it.  The same can be said of those with silent celiac disease.  Remember that a lack of symptoms does not mean that internal damage is not occurring.   All of that being said, we should not make assumptions.  Common sense and intelligent thought should be used as a basis for our dietary decisions.  Gluten aside, consider the following about corn:

  1. It is the second most commonly genetically modified food on the planet (soy is #1)
  2. Genetic modification of foods continues to kill animals in scientific studies.
  3. It is an incomplete protein.
  4. It is difficult for humans to digest (ever see corn in your stool?)
  5. It is high in calories and low in nutrient value
  6. It is a new food to the human genome.
  7. It is being used as a staple food for our cattle, fish, chicken, and cars.
  8. Cows and fish are not designed to eat grain.  (Have you ever seen a fish jump out of a lake into a corn field for supper?)
  9. When animals eat corn as a staple they have shorter life spans.
  10. Corn fed beef is linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.  Grass fed beef is not.
  11. Fructose derived from corn is toxic to the liver and contributes to severe health issues.
  12. Corn syrup has mercury in it.
  13. The list can go on and on and on…

Many consumers bow to the alter of “Gluten Free”  packaged foods as if the label is a safety net.  “Gluten Free”  on the package does not mean that the food is healthy.  Do not deny yourself the God given right to be healthy.

Remember, corn has gluten.  The gluten in corn has not been adequately studied.  Many studies to date have shown that corn induces inflammatory damage in those with gluten sensitivity.  Almost half of all celiac patients don’t get better on a wheat, rye, and barley free diet.  Is their a link between corn and refractory celiac disease?  At this point in time we do not know for sure, but 10 years of clinical experience with gluten intolerant patients reacting to corn is enough data for me.

Much more to come on corn…Stay tuned!

Gluten Intolerance and Infertility

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Human Reproduction JournalInfertility issues are becoming more and more common.  As many as  7.1 million  Americans experience infertility problems.  A study in the medical journal Human Reproduction identified gluten sensitivity in as many as 8% of women with unexplained fertility problems.  The doctors involved with this study recommend screening for gluten intolerance as “part of the diagnostic workup of infertile women, particularly when no apparent cause can be ascertained after standard evaluation.”

Source: Human Reproduction; 14(11):2759-61 1999.

Dr. Osborne Comment

Ever wonder why so many people have to see fertility experts just to have a baby?  The body has an innate intelligence that prevents pregnancy when the health status of the mother and/or father are poor.  To force pregnancy through unnatural means is a dangerous practice.  Miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, birth defects, infant developmental problems are common among those having children through fertility treatments.  Gluten intolerance is a modern plague on human fertility.  It is often overlooked when physicians perform infertility lab work-ups on couples.  The following conditions are known to contribute to fertility issues in both men and women.  They are also linked to gluten sensitivity:

  • PCOS – poly cystic ovarian syndrome
  • Diabetes
  • Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle)
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Disorders of the endocrine system
  • Nutrient malabsorption
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Spontaneous abortion
  • Multiple miscarriages
  • Low sperm count in men
  • Low sperm motility
  • Abnormal sperm shape

The above study estimated that 8% of infertility issues are linked to gluten intolerance.  Unfortunately, this number is based on lab tests that are flawed.  Testing serum antibodies in those with immune problems often times yields false negative results.  This can be misleading to a number of people.  I commonly see patients for infertility in my office who have had antibody tests come back falsely negative.  Greater accuracy can be obtained using HLA-DQ genotyping.  This testing is non-invasive and can be done online…

Remember…Your body has God’s innate intelligence built in.  It is designed to prevent pregnancy when the health of the mother and baby would be compromised.  If you are considering having children perform the following first:

  1. If you have had any of the above problems, get checked to see if you have gluten intolerance.
  2. Check you vitamin and mineral levels before attempting to have children.  Nutrient deficiencies can hinder internal development of the baby and can also cause complications to the mother during pregnancy.

Related Articles

Nutritional Influences of Fertility

Natural Approaches to Infertility

Gluten Intolerance & IBS

Gluten Sensitivity Causes IBS

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

A new review in the American Journal of Gastroenterology recommends that those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) be genetically tested for gluten sensitivity intolerance.  The Review elucidates the role of diet in the progression of IBS symptoms.  The authors further state that the classic signs of celiac disease are often absent for those suffering with IBS even thought gluten is the culprit.

IBS Gluten Testing Diagram

Source: Am J Gastroenterl2009;104:1587-94.

Dr. Peter Osborne Comment

This article is a major breakthrough in the advancement for gluten sensitivity recognition.  Traditionally IBS sufferers are told to “eat right and limit their stress”.  IBS typically manifests as symptoms of gut pain, bloating, gas, and loose bowels.  Endoscopic and other common diagnostic tests are most often negative leaving people without answers.  Medical treatment of IBS is largely unsuccessful.

Food intolerance and allergy and infections are the most common contributing factors in the development of irritable bowel symptoms.  It is important to have a physician evaluate these areas.  If you haven’t watched my video on gluten sensitivity, I highly recommend you do so now as gluten is a major cause of IBS.

If you would like to be genetically tested for gluten sensitivity and your doctor won’t help you visit this link and you can get a home test kit sent to you.

Related Articles:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Gluten Genetic Testing

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

DNA Man

Genetic Testing Now Available For Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease Without a Doctors Visit.

  • Test kit is mailed to your home
  • No Needles or blood draws (cheek swabs)
  • Confidentiality from your insurance company
  • Test results emailed promptly with either a positive or negative answer
  • Video download explains what you need to know and do if your results are positive
  • Family discounts are available on 2 or more test kits

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You cannot control what genes you are born with, but you can identify them and change your diet and lifestyle to accommodate them.   Fortunately gluten sensitivity and celiac disease can be evaluated with genetic testing.

Traditional diagnostic testing has focused on blood antibody tests and or intestinal biopsies.  These tests are antiquated and typically come back falsely negative.  Additionally, these tests are not specific for gluten sensitivity, they only measure for celiac disease.  The problem is that if you have non-celiac gluten sensitivity and your doctor runs tests to measure celiac disease, the outcome of the lab will be very misleading.

Traditional lab tests for gluten sensitivity are often incorrect!  Watch this to learn why genetic testing is the most accurate way to test…

Traditional labs only measure a fraction of how a person’s immune system can react to gluten.  Add to the problem that different grains contain different types of gluten.  Blood tests only measure the gluten found in wheat (gliadin).  The other problem is that people react to gluten in different ways.  Some people have immune reactions, some have intestinal problems, some develop psychological problems, some suffer with migraine headaches, psoriasis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis…  The list is over 200 diseases long.  I can’t even begin to tell you how many patients have come to my office after they were already biopsied or blood tested and told that they did not have gluten intolerance only to find out that their gene DNA tests were positive.

Unfortunately, the traditional definition of gluten is not 100% correct!

Why? Most of the research regarding gluten is directly linked to celiac disease, and most of the research on celiac disease focuses only on 3 grains (wheat, barley, rye) and sometimes a fourth (oats).   There are a number of studies that have linked the gluten in corn to adverse reactions! But wait, there is more…  Almost half of the people diagnosed with celiac disease do not get better on a traditionally defined gluten free diet!  So the big question is…Why?! The answer – The traditionally defined Gluten Free Diet is not really gluten free.

There is usually a 30-50 year gap in medical research and its application in actual practice.  Point being don’t expect your gastroenterologist or other specialist to start discussing gluten with you.  Don’t take my word for it, watch the news report below.  Fact is many doctors are on cue with the research curve, and many are not.

DNA - ScienceWho Should Be Genetically (DNA) Tested For Gluten Sensitivity?

Those directly related to someone who has already been diagnosed with gluten intolerance or celiac disease should always be tested, but those suffering with any of the following list of diseases should also get tested:

  • Those who suffer from chronic intestinal problems
  • Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
  • Chronic anemia
  • Osteoporosis
  • Migraine Headaches
  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema
  • IBS
  • Bipolar or Schizophrenia
  • Low thyroid (Hypothyroid)
  • ADD or ADHD
  • Autism
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Restless Legs Syndrome
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Type I or II diabetes
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Any Autoimmune Disease

Because of recent media exposure on The View, Larry King and Fox News, gluten sensitivity is becoming more and more of a house hold word.  Watch the video below to see a recent report by Fox News featuring Dr. Osborne as an expert in gluten sensitivity.  Pay particular attention to the symptoms and diseases that the woman had before finding out that she was gluten intolerant (hint – they were the opposite of celiac disease symptoms!)

Don’t know where your illness is coming from?  It’s time for you to get tested…

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