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There is a very interesting article (copied below) concering:
Avoiding Wheat and Gluten May Reverse Liver Failure and Hepatitis
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Avoiding Wheat and Gluten May Reverse Liver Failure and Hepatitis
Copied from: http://www.mercola.com/2002/may/8/gluten.htm
The gluten-free diet prescribed for the digestive disorder celiac disease may
reverse liver failure in some patients with both conditions.
And, the relatively high frequency of undiagnosed celiac disease among people
with serious liver conditions suggests the disorder should be looked for in
certain liver disease patients.
Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine and
interferes with the normal absorption of nutrients from food. It arises from an
allergic reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, oats and
spelt.
The problem often goes undetected because many of its symptoms -- such as
abdominal pain, fatigue and diarrhea -- are similar to a range of other
disorders. And some patients have no symptoms.
Celiac disease is also associated with other disorders caused by immune system
dysfunction, including immune system-related liver diseases like autoimmune
hepatitis.
In their study of 185 patients who had received liver transplants, researchers
found that eight patients -- or just over 4% -- had celiac disease. Two of
these eight had not been diagnosed previously, and in five patients, the liver
disorder had developed when their celiac disease was still undiagnosed. Only
one had stuck to a long-term gluten-free diet before the liver transplant.
Moreover, in another four patients with advanced liver disease and untreated
celiac disease, the investigators found that a gluten-free diet reversed
patients' liver dysfunction.
The two who have adhered to the diet remain in good condition, the researchers
report. One patient who did not stick with the diet saw his liver disease
progress and eventually had a liver transplant.
These findings suggest that in such patients, dietary intervention may prevent
progression to liver failure.
And, they point out, their finding that about 4% of liver transplant patients
had celiac disease -- usually associated with autoimmune liver disorders --
indicates that celiac disease should be "rigorously investigated" in all
patients with autoimmune hepatitis or hepatitis with no known cause.
In some cases, early detection and treatment of celiac disease may prevent
progression to end-stage liver failure.
Gastroenterology April 2002;122:881-888
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DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:
Most of us seem to benefit by avoiding wheat and the major protein that is in
wheat, gluten.
Celiac disease has been considered rare in this country, it often goes
undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome or lactose
intolerance. As many as one in 33 have a profound problem with gluten that
results in celiac disease.
My experience is that the true incidence is probably much higher still, perhaps
on the order of 1 in 10 people.
One of the major problems with celiac disease is that it maybe very difficult
to diagnose. Probably the best way to diagnose it is to go on a gluten free
diet and see if your symptoms improve.
If you have hepatitis, or any type of liver disease, it would certainly seem
reasonable to avoid gluten for a few weeks and see what happens to your liver.
What have you got to lose? In some cases, as this study shows, a liver
transplant.
Not only is avoiding gluten useful for many with celiac disease, but
interferon, which is used to treat many with hepatitis, can actually cause
celiac disease.
Related Articles:
Celiac Disease and Indigestion
The prevalence of celiac disease in at-risk groups of Children in the United
States
Wheat Sensitivity (Subclinical Gluten Intolerance) Linked To Repeated
Miscarriages
Celiac Disease: Fertility and Pregnancy
http://www.mercola.com/2002/may/8/gluten.htm
Reprinted from:
http://www.mercola.com/2002/may/8/gluten.htm
Tom, NW FL
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