GASTROENTEROLOGY
New insights into digestive health
UEG Week provided an insight into the latest research in gastroenterology, including some surprising findings concerning the impact of wheat protein on inflammation beyond the gut, as well as its contribution to the development of bowel-related inflammatory conditions.
UEG Week has been running since 1992 and now attracts more than 14,000 people from across the world. The congress features the latest advances in clinical management, the latest research in GI and liver disease and includes several different kinds of symposia and fora, where cutting-edge gastroenterology and hepatology is discussed. Last year, the conference took place in Vienna and high on the agenda included the latest research findings on the impact of wheat consumption on chronic health conditions, as well as a potential new breakthrough for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients.
The latest evidence, presented by researchers at the event, indicates that a protein in wheat triggers the inflammation of chronic health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, and also contributes towards the development of non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. With past studies commonly focusing on gluten and its impact on digestive health, this new research turns the spotlight onto a different family of proteins found in wheat called amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATIs).
Wheat protein and inflammation beyond the gut
The study shows that the consumption of ATIs can lead to the development of
inflammation in tissues beyond the gut, including the lymph nodes, kidneys, spleen and brain.1,2
Evidence suggests that
ATIs can worsen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, lupus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as inflammatory bowel disease. ATIs make up no more than 4% of wheat proteins, but can trigger powerful immune reactions in the gut that can spread to other tissues in the body. Lead researcher, Professor Detlef Schuppan from the Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany, explained: “As well as contributing to the development of bowel-related inflammatory conditions, we believe that ATIs can promote inflammation of other immune-related chronic conditions outside of the bowel. The type of gut inflammation seen in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity differs from that caused by coeliac disease, and we do not believe that this is triggered by gluten proteins. Instead, we demonstrated that ATIs from wheat, that are also contaminating commercial gluten, activate specific types of immune cells in the gut and other tissues, thereby potentially worsening the symptoms of pre-existing inflammatory illnesses.” 3,4 Clinical studies are now due to commence to explore the role that ATIs play
on chronic health conditions in more detail. “We are hoping that this research can lead us towards being able to recommend an ATI- free diet to help treat a variety of potentially serious immunological disorders,” added Professor Schuppan. Further to inflaming chronic health conditions outside of the bowel, ATIs may contribute to the development on non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. This condition is now an accepted medical diagnosis for people who do not have coeliac disease but benefit from a gluten free diet. Intestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements, are frequently reported, which can make it difficult to distinguish from IBS. However, extraintestinal symptoms can assist with diagnosis, which include headaches, joint pain and eczema.4 These symptoms typically appear after the consumption of gluten-containing food and improve rapidly on a gluten-free diet,5 yet gluten does not appear to cause the condition. Professor Schuppan hopes that the research will also help to redefine non-coeliac gluten sensitivity to a more appropriate term. He explained: “Rather than non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, which implies that gluten solitarily causes the inflammation, a more precise name for the disease should be considered.”
FEBRUARY 2017
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