Study Points to Molecular Origins of Celiac Disease

Reader Comments
Back to article

I have not been diagonsed with celiac disease but I have been diagonsed with early on set Parkinson's which has lead me to look for a healthy diet which will improve my symptoms. I have been trying to eat gluten free as well as eliminating food coloring additives, blue 1 and red 40. That said it is almost impossible to find these items without going to a health food store and spending through the nose. I have always had an alergic reaction to beer (it makes me throw-up), so my first thought after reading the article is barley. But is it just the enzime in barley or is it the malt/barley/yeast combinaton. I do not believe in taking drugs because they only mask the symptoms. It is really great to see this type of research open to reading and comment.

Jugs of IL 9:26AM July 20, 2011

The "drug" they are working on sounds very like the "allergy" injections (dog, cat, trees, grass) that only change an IgE reaction into an IgG one. What will desensitizing to gluten do? Will it change the IgA reaction to IgE - thus causing anaphylactic shock? And "natural" for humans actually does not include eating so very much of just one kind of grass seed. We probably should not eat wheat, rye or barley more than the week after it is harvested, like the hunters & gatherers did for all the plant seeds our early ancestors ate. Humans have not yet evolved for eating these seeds - we are still in the process of culling out the people who can't digest them - and I'd rather not be culled so I won't eat them.

Connie Hampton of CA 5:51PM July 27, 2010

We are all hoping and praying for an answer to the disease caused by ingesting gluten. If a drug is offered that can desensitize the protein and make our digestive systems easier to live with, then I am all for it. Not all drugs are bad. Some are very helpful, to put into our systems what our systems cannot produce. And no, I do not work for or are affiliated with any drug companies. Eating natural is good, but is so limited. Not only does celiac limit the food intake, but it is harmful to social living as well. Bring on anything that can help me to live an almost normal life again.

Sharon G of MI 5:28PM July 27, 2010

I was diagnosed gluten intolerant nearly 2 years ago at age 29. I always worked out and ate healthily before my diagnosis (which came along with hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, etc.). All I could think was, "Why me? I've done everything right. Why is my body turning on me, especially at such a young age?" This diagnosis has killed my social life, and I've been discriminated against at work because of it. Since I work for a company too small to have to adhere to FMLA guidelines, I have been left with no help to try to deal with it on my own. I have to drive nearly 100 miles round trip to the nearest health foods store so I can get GF substitutes. I used to be able to get whole wheat pasta on sale with a coupon for free, and now I have to pay $3-$4/bag for some rice pasta. It's so expensive to eat this way, and I don't even eat that much GF substitute things, preferring instead to eat naturally GF foods.
I never understand why many celiac/GI people say that this diagnosis has led them to eat more healthily. Most people I know who are celiac/GI replace their gluten containing foods with GF replacements, many of which have double the calorie and carb counts at half the serving size. I was eating quite well in the first place and I didn't need this diagnosis to teach me better eating habits.
So, if someone offered me a pill (which I'll bet would be cheaper than paying through the nose for all this special food every month), you'd better believe I'd take it! I thank the researchers, and I especially thank the study participants. Those are some brave souls...I know I wouldn't willingly put gluten in my body in the name of science!

JD of NV 4:00PM July 27, 2010

Once again, companies are trying to push drugs as the answer while they profit.
Regulating diet and increasing greens and healthy non-processed foods is the best "drug" for this disease as well as others. Drugs only treat symptoms. Don't add more poison/ damage to your body in trying to respond to celiac...

Stacey of CA 1:29PM July 27, 2010