Enzyme pill to ease symptoms of gluten intolerance
People suffering from gluten intolerance might find relief from the symptoms by taking an enzyme pill with food, as recent research shows.
Such a pill might allow people sensitive to gluten to eat small quantities of the protein without experiencing side effects such as bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Scientists believe that this could be a “game-changer” for people with gluten-intolerance, despite the pill being aimed at breaking down residual wheat protein in the gut rather than allowing sufferers to eat gluten-containing food, according to ITV.
Lead researcher Dr Julia Konig, from the University of Orebro in Sweden, said: “Since even small amounts of gluten can affect gluten-sensitive patients, this supplement can play an important role in addressing the residual gluten that is often the cause of uncomfortable symptoms.”
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For the study, eighteen gluten-sensitive volunteers were given porridge made with two crumbled wheat biscuits containing gluten. They also took high or low doses of the enzyme AN-PEP or a “dummy” placebo pill. The researchers observed that both enzymes broke down gluten in the stomach and small intestine. The findings were presented to specialists attending the Chicago meeting for Digestive Disease Week 2017.
Dr Konig also said: “This substance allows gluten-sensitive patients to feel safer, for example, when they are out with friends at a restaurant and can’t be sure whether something is 100% gluten-free.
“Our results suggest that this enzyme can potentially reduce the side effects that occur when gluten-sensitive individuals accidentally eat a little gluten.
“We are not suggesting that AN-PEP will give these individuals the ability to eat pizza or pasta, sources of large amounts of gluten, but it might make them feel better if they mistakenly ingest gluten.”
Nonetheless, Konig said that the enzyme was not tested on coeliac disease patients, who can be seriously harmed if consuming even the smallest amount of gluten.
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