Antioxidants may benefit coeliacs
Added 15.10.2009
What is coeliac disease?
About one percent of the UK population has coeliac disease or gluten-sensitive enteropathy. People with this condition are intolerant to gluten - a protein found in wheat, rye and barley as well as in many processed foods and sauces. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system believes gluten is a foreign invader and attacks it. The result is damage to little "hairs" (villi) along the lining of the small intestine. Villi serve the purpose of absorbing nutrients (vitamins, minerals etc.) from the food we ingest. When villi are damaged, they can no longer absorb essential nutrients and this could lead to malnourishment and other complications.Symptoms of coeliac disease can vary from person to person and some people may not have any symptoms at all; however, the most common ones include: stomach pain, bloating, flatulence, diarrhoea or constipation, fatigue, anaemia, weight loss, skin rash and mouth ulcers. The cause of coeliac disease is not known, but in many cases the disease appears following a physical or emotional trauma. It also appears to be inherited in many people. To date, the only treatment is following a strict gluten-free diet. A recent study has found antioxidants may reduce many of the symptoms of coeliac disease.
Antioxidants may reduce ceoliac disease symptoms
A study published this month found that people with coeliac disease have decreased levels of glutathione compared to people without the condition. Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps to protect cells against oxidative stress and increases the activity of other antioxidants.The Scientific Study
Background information
The objective of the study was to assess the role of oxidative stress in the pathology of coeliac disease. For this purpose, intestinal biopsies were taken from 39 children with the disease and 19 additional control participants. The levels and activity of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase (markers of oxidative stress) were measured.
Results
Participants with coeliac disease had lower levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase compared with the control participants.
Conclusion
Oxidative stress plays an important role in coeliac disease; patients with coeliac disease have a decreased antioxidant capacity, which appears to be due to exhausted glutathione levels and this creates oxidative stress. Researchers believe natural antioxidants in addition to nutritional supplements could help reduce ceoliac disease symptoms.
Antioxidants can regenerate glutathione
When a person with coeliac disease ingests gluten, oxidative stress develops and this leads to many of the symptoms associated with the condition. Glutathione is an antioxidant that plays a large role in counteracting oxidative stress; however, if there is a lot of oxidative stress present, glutathione levels become exhausted and can only be restored if there are sufficient levels of other antioxidants that can donate their electrons to glutathione. Researchers are optimistic that by increasing levels of antioxidants, glutathione sources can be regenerated and coeliac disease symptoms reduced.References:
National Health Services (NHS) - Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS)
Mayo Clinic
Stojiljkovic, V. & all. "Antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in small intestinal mucosa of children with celiac disease." Clinical Biochemistry. Vol. 42, Issue 13-14. September, 2009.
Mayo Clinic
Stojiljkovic, V. & all. "Antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in small intestinal mucosa of children with celiac disease." Clinical Biochemistry. Vol. 42, Issue 13-14. September, 2009.
Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:
This is an important study that may explain why people who suffer from coeliac disease develop many of their symptoms. It may also explain how oxidative stress may worsen this disease and even cause multiple intolerances. It may also explain the positive experience many of us have by recommending antioxidant supplements to people suffering from this disease. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to absorb the huge glutathione molecule, but supplements containing NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) and selenium stimulate the synthesis of glutathione. In other words, take supplements with antioxidants including NAC, selenium coenzyme Q10 etc. to reduce oxidative stress and stimulate glutathione synthesis, if you suffer from food intolerances or coeliac disease.
