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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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