Sidney Stohs, Ph.D. Senior Vice President of Research and Development, AdvoCare; former Dean, School of Pharmacy, Creighton University; professor of pharmacology and toxicology; holder of the Gilbert F. Taffe Jr. Endowed Chair in Research; fellow, American College of Nutrition; fellow, Academy of Toxicological Sciences; author, more than 300 research and educational publications; doctorate in biochemistry and microbiology, University of Wisconsin.

Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that has immunologic, environmental and genetic components. It is one of the most common immune-mediated disorders characterized by a response to ingested wheat gluten and related proteins from rye and barley, leading to inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining (mucosa). The incidence of celiac disease in the United States is believed to be about 1% of the population. Characteristic symptoms include diarrhea, chronic malabsorption, anemia, occasional constipation, abdominal cramps, gas and bloating. However, not all individuals suffer from abdominal distress. Some individuals may experience fatigue, headache, neurological problems, distress, infertility, weakness and skin conditions such as dermatitis herpetiformis.

The eight food allergens that account for 90% of known food allergies include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat (gluten) and soy beans. Gluten intolerance disorders bear the names celiac disease, sprue, and gluten enteropathy. The incidence of gluten intolerance is much greater than 1% in conjunction with diabetes, neurological disorders, skin diseases, digestive disorders including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), joint disorders, infertility, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Individuals with gluten intolerance have required an average of 9 years from the onset of symptoms until a firm diagnosis was obtained. This has been due in part to the lack of sensitive and rapid immunologic assays for gluten proteins. Recently developed immunologic assays are becoming more available, and health care providers are slowly learning to recognize that gluten intolerance is widespread and much more common than had been previously recognized. A recent study suggests that over ¼th of the population in the United States is gluten sensitive based on immunologic assays, while approximately 1% may have progressed to a serious symptomatic disease state.

The treatment for gluten intolerance–related conditions is a gluten-free diet, and if one wishes to remain symptom free, the gluten free diet must be maintained for life. Gluten is a mixture of several proteins found primarily in wheat, barley and rye. Oats contain a related protein that the vast majority of individuals with gluten sensitivity can tolerate. However, oats are frequently milled using the same equipment for wheat, barley and rye, and may therefore be contaminated with these grains. As a consequence, it may be prudent to avoid oat-based products.

One should avoid any ingredient derived from wheat, barley and rye including such ingredients as malted barley, hydrolyzed proteins from these grains, filler flour, graham flour, barley extract, hydrolyzed wheat starch, wheat bran and germ, wheat protein, wheat-derived amino acids, oat extract, oat flour and vegetable starch. Products such as soy and Brewers yeast should also be avoided because they may contain extracts from wheat, barley or rye.

Unfortunately, gluten is used in the manufacture of virtually all packaged, canned and boxed processed foods to improve palatability and texture. Gluten is in essence a glue that may hold products together. Common processed foods that contain hidden gluten include breads, cereals, cookies and cakes, flavored potato chips, frozen dinners, pastas, pies, sauces and gravies, some salad dressings, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, dried and canned soups, barbecue sauce, breaded meats (fish, chicken, shrimp, steak, etc.), crackers, and cous cous.

Frequently, symptoms can be relieved in gluten-sensitive individuals by going gluten-free for two weeks. However, in severe cases, a longer period of time may be required. Some individuals may have a concurrent sensitivity to other proteins in addition to gluten, as for example, casein and whey found in milk-derived products, tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant, peppers, tobacco, peanuts and soy.

Flour substitutes that can be used in lieu of gluten-containing flours include corn flour and corn meal, almond flour and almond meal, buckwheat (soba) flour and groats, flax seed flour, millet, fava bean flour, besan (chickpea or garbanzo bean) flour, potato flour, quinoa, rice and rice flour, sorghum (milo), soy flour, tapioca flour, teff and amaranth flour.

AdvoCare periodically tests its products for the presence of gluten using a very sensitive immunologic assay. Products that test positive for gluten include Nighttime Recovery, Fruit & Fiber Bar, Heart Source Bar and Herbal Cleanse tablets. Nighttime Recovery, Fruit & Fiber Bar and Heart Source Bar contain oat-derived ingredients. Other products which contain oat-derived ingredients but have not tested positive for gluten include Meal Replacement Shakes, Berry and Lemon Crunch Breakfast Bars, Fiber Drink and Peanut Caramel Snack Bars.

AdvoCare products that may be helpful in promoting intestinal health and improving nutrient absorption include CorePlex Effervescent Drink, Calcium Plus Effervescent Drink, OmegaPlex, Meal Replacement Shakes, ProBiotic RESTORE and/or Biotic Blast, Digest-Ease, Amplify A.T., Anti-Aging Formula and Fiber Drink. For more information regarding these products, please refer to the Product Facts and Ingredients link on each product’s store page on the AdvoCare website.

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