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

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/well/eat/a-downside-of-gluten-free.html

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR   FEB. 16, 2017

A gluten-free diet may have a downside: increased blood levels of 
arsenic and mercury, according to a preliminary report.

Researchers analyzed data on 7,471 participants in a larger national 
health study, of whom 73 reported being on a gluten-free diet. 
Concentrations of urinary arsenic in those on the diet were nearly 
twice as high as in those not on it. Blood levels of inorganic 
mercury were also significantly higher in gluten-free dieters. The 
study is in Epidemiology.

One possible culprit? Rice, which can absorb metals from water and 
soil. According to the senior author, Maria Argos, an epidemiologist 
at the University of Illinois at Chicago, people on gluten-free diets 
tend to increase their rice intake by eating special gluten-free 
products that contain rice, or rice syrup as a sweetener, though they 
tend to eat as much plain rice as others.

Arsenic and mercury are widely distributed throughout the 
environment, and everyone has some amount in their blood. But the 
levels of both elements among those on the gluten-free diet, while 
far from being toxic, were above those generally considered normal.

"The health impacts at this level of exposure are unknown," Dr. Argos 
said. "But people should be aware of what they are eating. They are 
potentially consuming much more rice than they realize.

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List *
Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC