Since my diagnosis of celiac disease I’ve been interested in all aspects of the science about gluten, the trigger for bowel damage and other problems in those of us with this disease.
Web searches are often a clue to the popularity of different approaches. The top hit on Google for “gluten, microbiome” was by Dr. David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain, whose work I have discussed in earlier blogs. Dr. Perlmutter discusses early gluten exposure and increased type 1 diabetes and mouse studies showing microbiome changes with development of diabetes associated with gluten exposure. He emphasizes the importance of the microbiome for a well functioning immune system and health.
What does a review of the scientific literature show?
1- Change to a gluten free diet produces a modest change to the microbiome which mainly is a decrease in “healthy” bacteria and an increase in “unhealthy” bacteria. One investigator hypothesized that this might be due to less dietary fiber since gluten containing grains are a major healthy fiber source for many.
2. Change to a whole food plant based diet produces a radical change in the microbiome with the opposite effect to a gluten free diet.
3. There is large variation in the microbiome between different populations and even in the same individual from week to week. Some is probably genetic but other variation is due to diet, exercise, sleep and other lifestyle factors.
4. A recent extensive review noted “there is misconceived perception that this diet (gluten free) is healthier.” The reviewer goes on to say that gluten containing foods provide many other important nutrients.
5. A cardiologist whose website is “glutenfreecardiologist” offers a reasonable approach: try a gluten free diet for a few weeks; if you feel better continue, but be sure to get lots of fiber and other nutrients from other sources (limit meat, dairy, sweets in favor of other whole grains, legumes and plant food.)
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Hi Jack, Loved this and your last 2 blog posts. I had studied forest bathing a couple years ago. Your info on sugar, particularly dates, answered some questions about choices some vegan nutritionists like simnett nutrition on YouTube who chooses dates to sweeten smoothies. Thank you for all your work and diligence, Sue Lomax
On Thu, Mar 7, 2019 at 7:35 PM Jack’s What Really Matters Blog wrote:
> Jack Forrest MD posted: ” Since my diagnosis of celiac disease I’ve been > interested in all aspects of the science about gluten, the trigger for > bowel damage and other problems in those of us with this disease. Web > searches are often a clue to the popularity of different approa” >
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Jack,
I developed non- celiac gluten sensitivity five years ago: unexplained cramps for a couple of month that disappeared after I serendipitously ate only bananas one day. The cramps returned the next day after ingestion of bread. The tests for anti gliadin and antiglutaminase antibodies were all negative… After avoiding gluten I got rid of the cramps: they return though after any minimal ingestion of gluten…. Concerning fiber, I ingest the same amount as before with our whole food diet. Helga discovered Schaer bread with lots of fiber and a texture similar to whole wheat bread. My understanding is that 1% of the population has celiac disease, 4% nonceliac gluten sensitivity and that everybody else who avoids gluten curtails their nutrition for no good reason.
Best
Paul
Sent from my iPhone
>
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Have you read Missing Microbes, by Martin Blaser MD? Fascinating book about over use of Antibiotics. Some interesting theories on obesity, asthma, and cancer and their relationship to the microbiome. I became interested in it when my dad got C. Difficile. We were considering a stool transplant. He was always about very judicious use of antibiotics when we were younger because he believed they would have eventually become ineffectual.
On Thu, Mar 7, 2019, 5:35 PM Jack’s What Really Matters Blog wrote:
> Jack Forrest MD posted: ” Since my diagnosis of celiac disease I’ve been > interested in all aspects of the science about gluten, the trigger for > bowel damage and other problems in those of us with this disease. Web > searches are often a clue to the popularity of different approa” >
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PS. Not so sure about Pearlmutter’s science. His advice about vaccinations is contrary to CDC. He’s also listed on “Quackwatch” website.
On Thu, Mar 7, 2019, 5:35 PM Jack’s What Really Matters Blog wrote:
> Jack Forrest MD posted: ” Since my diagnosis of celiac disease I’ve been > interested in all aspects of the science about gluten, the trigger for > bowel damage and other problems in those of us with this disease. Web > searches are often a clue to the popularity of different approa” >
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My prior blogs were critical of Perlmutter’s book and conclusions. This blog comments on his gluten/microbiome discussion as top web hit (most popular) but my blog goes on to show that research on gluten free diet effects on the microbiome are negative, not positive as Perlmutter implies.
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I made the connection that your points were contrary to his unscientific cause and effect conclusions. I didn’t realize you’d been critical of his work, as the opening of the current blog didn’t appear to be judgemental. What a foolish concrete thinker I am! I guess I still need to be spoon fed.
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Jack, please tell me about Jim, Sue Lomax
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