<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> A new study shows chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with CD who have not yet begun a gluten-free diet. This is interesting. Previously on the List, I posted articles on free radical damage caused by gliadin, in vitro, and on selenium in which, selenium, an important antioxidant, and other antioxidants are shown to be deficient in CD patients. It was shown that even in NORMAL blood serum, gliadin promotes IgE, IgG and free radicals. Free radicals have been demonstrated to cause chromosome damage in cells which can lead to the onset of cancers. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and are thought to reduce cancer risks. This new study tends to confirm the free radical role of gliadin in vivo, i.e. in actual live patients. ---------- A Role For Antioxidant Therapy in CD? 26 Jun 2003 http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0306d&L=celiac&O=D&P=9294 Selenium and CD - Introduction, Part 1, Part 2 2 Aug 2003 http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0308a&L=celiac&O=D&P=5736 http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0308a&L=celiac&O=D&P=5850 http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0308a&L=celiac&O=D&P=5960 ---------- J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2004 Feb; 38(2): 177-180 Gluten-Free Diet Has a Beneficial Effect on Chromosome Instability in Lymphocytes of Children With Coeliac Disease. Kolacek S, Jadresin O, Petkovic I I, Misak Z, Sonicki Z, Booth IW. Children's Hospital Zagreb, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Statistics, Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia; Institute of Child Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. SUMMARY: OBJECTIVES Children with coeliac disease (CD) have an increased number of chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Whether genetically determined or a secondary phenomenon in CD, chromosome abnormalities may be involved in the predisposition to cancer in CD patients. The aim of the study was to follow a group of children with CD in whom the initial frequency of chromosome aberrations at diagnosis was known and to measure the same variable after a minimum of 2 years on a gluten- free diet.METHODS Chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined in 17 patients with CD, before and after at least 24 months of a gluten free diet (mean, 33 months), and in 15 healthy children. The differences in the frequency of aberrations were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test.RESULTS Twelve patients adhered to the diet and had a significantly lower frequency of chromosome aberrations than did 5 patients not following the diet (0.16% v 1.2%; P = 0.03), whereas at presentation there had been no difference (1.54% v 1.2%; P = 0.09). The frequency of aberrations at follow-up in patients who were diet adherent was significantly lower than at presentation (1.54% v 0.16%; P = 0.02) and remained unchanged in patients who were not diet adherent (1.2% v 1.2%; P = 1). After at least 24 months of a gluten-free diet, children with CD did not differ from healthy control subjects (0.16% v 0.27%; P = 0.54), whereas children not following the diet had an increased frequency of aberrations (1.2% v 0.27%; P = 0.05).CONCLUSIONS The frequency of chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with CD decreased significantly on a gluten-free diet. We conclude that genomic instability is a secondary phenomenon, possibly caused by chronic intestinal inflammation. PMID: 14734880 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] * * * * Send administrative questions to [log in to unmask] *