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Scientists identify explanation for non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (relevant to ME)

Cheesus

Senior Member
Messages
1,292
Location
UK
This will probably come as absolutely no surprise whatsoever to anyone on the forum.

A new study may explain why people who do not have celiac disease or wheat allergy nevertheless experience a variety of gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms after ingesting wheat and related cereals. The findings suggest that these individuals have a weakened intestinal barrier, which leads to a body-wide inflammatory immune response.

The [Non-coeliac wheat sensitivity] group was markedly different. They did not have the intestinal cytotoxic T cells seen in celiac patients, but they did have a marker of intestinal cellular damage that correlated with serologic markers of acute systemic immune activation. The results suggest that the identified systemic immune activation in NCWS is linked to increased translocation of microbial and dietary components from the gut into circulation, in part due to intestinal cell damage and weakening of the intestinal barrier.

Remind anyone of a compelling hypothesis currently under investigation in a certain disease?

Full article:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160726123632.htm
 

A.B.

Senior Member
Messages
3,780
Our preliminary data from a study of well-characterized patients and controls demonstrate that individuals with ME/CFS exhibit significantly elevated antibody reactivity to gluten, which correlates with the severity of GI symptoms. Moreover, the results show that the observed immune response to gluten in ME/CFS is fundamentally distinct from that in celiac disease, being independent of the action of transglutaminase 2 enzyme and HLA-DQ2/DQ8 molecules. Additional data within this application indicate that increased antibody reactivity to gluten can be associated with microbial translocation in individuals without celiac disease.

Source http://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R21-AI121996-01
 

Thinktank

Senior Member
Messages
1,640
Location
Europe
Is there a test for this sort of thing?

There are several tests that i can think of that might indicate a leaky gut and gut dysbiosis.

1. Lactulose/mannitol test
2. Soluble CD14
3. IgA against certain gut bacteria
4. Zonulin (in the case of gluten sensitivity)
5. PCR DNA stooltest like Ubiome, not directly proof of a leaky gut but dysbiosis may lead to a leaky gut
6. IgG against certain foods aka food sensitivities.
 

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
Looks like to be along the same lines of the pioneering work by Dr Alessio Fasano, who investigated the difference between gluten sensitivity in those with celiac disease, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (ie, a food intolerance to gluten).

It turns out that in non-celiac gluten sensitivity, the innate immune system targets and attacks the gluten in the intestines, leading to inflammation both inside and outside the digestive system. Whereas in celiac gluten sensitivity, this immune attack involves both the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system responding to gluten.

It is the adaptive immune system that is behind autoimmune disease, and in celiac disease, gluten causes the adaptive immune system to mount an autoimmune attack on the intestines, leading to intestinal damage (specifically, destruction of the villi of the small intestine).

In non-celiac gluten sensitivity, because the adaptive immune system is not involved, there is no intestinal damage. Although Dr Fasano says non-celiac gluten sensitivity can produce near-identical symptoms to celiac, including diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, joint pain, depression, brain fog and migraines.
 
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Cheesus

Senior Member
Messages
1,292
Location
UK
1. Lactulose/mannitol test

Just to warn anyone thinking of doing a Lactulose/Mannitol test: it is only specific to the small intestine. It will not tell you if you have colonic permeability. If you want to test for permeability of both intestines then it is better to use a polyethylene glycol test.

The Cyrex Array 2 includes testing for zonulin, I believe.
 

Skippa

Anti-BS
Messages
841
Won't everyone have some degree of permeability?

So, does being positive for one of these tests definitely have medical significance?

And then what? What does a permeable gut mean... How does one take immediate steps to manage it?