Diabetes Archives

Wheat gluten is causal factor in type 1 diabetes and thyroid problems

FYI, Just wanted to notify everyone of a new study noting the possible dangers of wheat consumption. Our son was diagnosed type 1 diabetic two years ago (he is now 5), with a severe milk allergy and high gluten antibodies. Life with insulin injections and blood sugar readings and dietary restrictions is tough on him, but what has really concerned us has been his erratic and "crazy" behavior... until we started giving him miso once a day a couple of weeks ago! We are amazed by what we are seeing, he seems to be able to concentrate much better and is much more calm; also, his blood sugar readings are not swinging as much as they used to, and he needs less insulin (possibly because he is not eating with quite the ravenous hunger he once had). Everyone comments on the change, a visible change that is noticeable within minutes of observing his behavior. We are so happy...but I did a search on miso on this site and found only 3 documents which mentioned it, none of them discussing its virtues! Dr. Stoll, what do you think of miso, and what is going on with our son now? Do you know of any drawbacks to the daily use of miso? Thanks in advance,
Sherri (see below)

Gluten May Induce Endocrine Autoantibodies in Adolescent Celiac Patients

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WESTPORT, Aug 23 (Reuters Health) - Italian researchers have found that adolescent patients with celiac disease have elevated levels of anti-thyroid and anti-pancreatic autoantibodies.

According to a report published in the July issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, gluten may play a role in the observed autoimmunity and, in some cases, the resulting organ dysfunction.

Dr. Vincenzo Toscano, of Universita La Sapienza in Rome, and colleagues explain that previous studies have shown that antibodies directed against endocrine glands develop in a high proportion of patients with celiac disease.

The gluten-free diet is frequently abandoned during adolescence, and the authors determined whether anti-endocrine antibodies and endocrine function were affected by the presence or absence of gluten.

They report that nine of 44 celiac disease patients were positive for at least one anti-thyroid autoantibody. The same numbers of patients were positive for anti-pancreatic autoantibodies. According to the paper, one patient was diabetic, one had clinical hypothyroidism, and two others exhibited preclinical hypothyroidism.

The investigators point out that 10 of 19 patients on a diet containing gluten were positive for at least one antibody, compared with five of 25 patients on the gluten-free diet. The distribution of autoantibodies was significantly different between the two groups.

In light of their findings, Dr. Toscano's team concludes that gluten consumption is associated with a high prevalence of anti-endocrine autoantibodies.

Am J Gastroenterol 2000;95:1742-1748.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Wheat gluten is causal factor in type 1 diabetes and thyroid problems (Archive in diabetes.) Walt Stoll 10:39:05 8/30/00 (0)

In Reply to: Wheat gluten is causal factor in type 1 diabetes and thyroid problems posted by Sherri Russo on August 28, 2000 at 16:50:55:

Thanks, Sherri!

Namaste`

Walt