1% of the population suffers from stomach aches after eating bread… What are the benefits of a gluten-free diet?

Eating wheat-based foods can cause damage to the intestines, leading to abdominal pain and bloating. This is celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder. Currently, maintaining a gluten-free diet is the only option. Gluten is found in grains like wheat, barley, and oats, as well as in foods like bread, noodles, and pasta.

A study found that eating a gluten-free diet for a year improved gut symptoms, but did not return them to normal. Surprisingly, some "good bacteria" in the gut microbiome were reduced. Researchers at the University of Nottingham Medical School in the UK compared the diets of 36 newly diagnosed coeliac disease patients with those of 36 healthy individuals, revealing this finding.

"There is an urgent need to develop prebiotic therapies that counteract the negative effects of a gluten-free diet on the gut microbiota, including bifidobacteria," said study lead author Professor Luca Marciani, a gastrointestinal radiologist. "Despite the prevalence of celiac disease, we still don't know exactly how it affects the basic physiology of the gut and how a gluten-free diet might alter this."

The research team used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the effects of a gluten-free diet on the intestinal function and gut microbiota of patients with celiac disease for one year. The study found that consistent gluten-free diets led to some improvements in intestinal symptoms, intestinal moisture, and intestinal transit rates. However, the results did not return to normal levels. In particular, the researchers found a decrease in the number of "good bacteria," such as Bifidobacteria, in the microbiota. Bifidobacteria are associated with reduced intake of wheat starch and nutrients.

 

According to the research team, celiac disease is a chronic condition that affects approximately 1% of the general population. It is an autoimmune disease that occurs when a person with celiac disease consumes gluten, a component found in foods like bread and noodles. When a person develops celiac disease, the immune system reacts abnormally, irritating and damaging intestinal tissue, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain and bloating. Depending on the individual, symptoms may include weight changes (gain or loss), loss of appetite, diarrhea, and flatulence, as well as complications such as malnutrition, anemia, neuropathy, and seizures.

 

The research team collected blood and stool samples from the participants and analyzed MRI scans of their intestines. Celiac disease patients followed a gluten-free diet for a year, while healthy volunteers did not follow a gluten-free diet for a year. The results showed that the small bowel water content (SBWC) was 157±15 mL in celiac disease patients and 100±12 mL in healthy volunteers. The whole gut transit time (WGTT) of food was 68±8 hours on average in celiac disease patients and 41±5 hours on average in healthy volunteers. This is much longer than expected for food to pass through the intestines. The patients' gut microbiomes also had higher levels of "bad bacteria," such as E. coli. The research team predicted that "these results will help identify new treatments that can alleviate long-term symptoms in celiac disease patients."

 

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These days, my mom piles up bread for snacks.

I'm eating it, but I'm a little worried.

 

There are always snacks at home in winter

I think it's bread and rice cake.

 

Whole grain breads

It's a bit tough for older people to eat.