<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Bonnie Tyler wrote:

>>>>
In her recent letter on the Gluten content of Rice dream, Katie Bretsch said.

"How can they say there is an increased risk of lymphoma (presumably from
chronic challenge to the immune system) and also say there is a "safe"
level of exposure?  I personally consider this illogical and don't plan to
risk my health on it."

Katie should realize that the studies which have shown that the gluten free
diet reduces our risk of lymphoma were done in European countries where
bread made from wheat starch is allowed on a gluten free diet.  The people
studied, who are on diets that typically contain up to 40 mg per day of
wheat gluten, did not show a higher incidence of lymphoma than the general
population.
<<<<

My memory is that the incidence was still a bit higher than the general
population, and that the numbers of subjects were quite small. While the
general picture of reduced risk of malignancy through strict dietary
compliance is very clear, subtler inferences are more difficult to justify
on the basis of that data.

>>>>
While there is good reason to believe that ingesting large
amount of gluten increases our cancer risk, there is no reason to believe
that trace amounts of gluten are harmful to our long term health.

Almost all toxins have some threshold level, below which no harm can be
observed.  Some compounds (like vitamin A) are poisonous in large amounts
but actually beneficial in small amounts.  Before you all get upset, I'm
not suggesting that trace amounts of gluten are beneficial to celiacs.  I'm
simply pointing out that suggesting that there is a "safe" level of
exposure is consistant with the scientific understanding of the actions of
most toxins and is completely logical.
<<<<

But what if the increased rate of malignancy is due to exorphins from
partly digested dairy and cereal proteins? Castany et al. (1) have shown
that within 30 minutes of exposure to gliadins, the blood from treated
celiacs loses its Natural Killer cell activation.

If the dynamic which leads to increased malignancy among untreated celiacs
simply requires exogenous peptides acting as neurotransmitters, then trace
amounts of gluten might well increase our risk of malignancy.

>>>>
If gluten causes lymphoma because of the chronic challenge to our immune
systems, there is every reason to believe that there is a safe level.
<<<<

And if it causes lymphoma by other means, there may be good cause to worry
about trace amounts.

>>>>
If there is not a safe level of gluten in our diets, why do we even try?
It is well recognized that a 100% gluten free diet is impossible in our
wheat filled world.
<<<<

Of course, this is a personal perspective. I prefer to strive for 100%. It
seems healthier than putting myself in a position where I will regret not
having been careful enough. You are welcome to do otherwise.

>>>>
Are we all doomed to short lives and get cancers
because of occasional hidden glutens?  I don't think so.

The best available scientific data suggest that celiacs will not suffer any
long term health effects from drinking Rice Dream.   Use common sense.  If
Rice Dream makes you sick, don't drink eat.  But if you don't get sick when
you drink it, there is no scientific reason to suspect that you are
endangering your health.
<<<<

Actually, there is a rather large group of celiacs who are asymptomatic.
That is, they don't experience any symptoms when ingesting gluten. By your
rationale, they are perfectly safe, but that is not the case.

I enjoy reading your posts, Bonnie, but I sure don't agree with you on this
one....... but I'll bet you already figured that out.:-)

best wishes,
Ron Hoggan
Calgary, Alberta

1. Castany MA, et al. Natural killer cell activity in coeliac disease:
effect of in vitro treatment on effector lymphocytes and/or target
lymphoblastoid, myeloid and epithelial cell lines with gliadin.
Folia Microbiol (Praha). 1995; 40(6): 615-620.
PMID: 8768253; UI: 96295280.