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Clin Immunol. 2004 Apr;111(1):108-18

Delayed exposure to wheat and barley proteins reduces diabetes incidence in
non-obese diabetic mice.

Schmid S, Koczwara K, Schwinghammer S, Lampasona V, Ziegler AG, Bonifacio E.

Diabetes Research Institute, Krankenhaus Munchen-Schwabing, Munich, Germany.

Dietary gluten, vitamin D3, and fish-oil are suggested to influence the
incidence of autoimmune diabetes. To determine whether modification of
their intake could reduce diabetes incidence and autoimmunity in mice, pups
from female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were fed diets modified for
protein source, fatty acid content, and/or vitamin D3 content and were
followed for diabetes development, insulin autoantibodies (IAA), and
insulitis. Replacement of wheat and barley with poultry as the major
protein source significantly affected diabetes development. Diabetes onset
was delayed and diabetes incidence was significantly reduced in female mice
that received the wheat and barley protein-free diet throughout life (45%
by age 32 weeks vs. 88% in control mice; P < 0.01), from weaning (42%; P <
0.005), or from 3 to 10 weeks of age only (36%; P < 0.01), and diabetes
development was not completely restored by gliadin supplementation of the
wheat and barley protein-free diet (58%; P < 0.05). Insulin autoantibodies
(P < 0.01) and insulitis scores (P < 0.02) were reduced, and intra-
pancreatic IL-4 mRNA increased (P < 0.05) in wheat and barley protein-
deprived mice. Diabetes incidence was neither reduced by fish-oil or
vitamin D3 supplementation alone, nor in mice fed a wheat and barley
protein-free diet that was supplemented with fish-oil and vitamin D3. These
data support a link between dietary wheat and barley proteins and the
development of autoimmune diabetes.

PMID: 15093559 [PubMed - in process]

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