CELIAC Archives

Celiac/Coeliac Wheat/Gluten-Free List

CELIAC@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
"Donald D. Kasarda" <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 21 Jan 1996 17:04:32 PST
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (37 lines)
<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
Kathy Coughlin wrote:
 
>I've been intrigued by the idea of gf beer, which has been batted around
>some on this list.  My brother (who brews) says that if beer is well enough
>filtered, all the protein will be removed.  I tested the Negra Modelo with
>the gluten-free pantry's gluten test kit and it came out negative.
 
 Although much of the intact protein may be removed in filtering beer, some
proteins have been demonstrated to remain intact in commercial beer,
although these proteins are not the ones that likely cause a problem in
celiac disease.
The enzmye action in malting and fermentation does, however, break down the
intact hordein proteins (hordeins are the problem proteins) to smaller
pieces (often referred to as peptides).  These smaller pieces may have
activity in celiac disease because it was demonstrated by Frazier almost 30
years ago that the combined action of the enzymes pepsin, trypsin, and
chymotrypsin fails to deactivate wheat gliadin proteins even though they are
broken down quite considerably by the enzymes.  Finally, if the test being
used is the Australian test, this is based on antibodies to certain intact
proteins (omega-gliadins) that result from immunization of animals with the
intact proteins.  It is uncertain to what degree the antibody would react
with the breakdown products of the C hordeins (which are the barley
equivalents of omega-gliadins) that might be present in beer.  They might
and they might not.  As far as I am aware, this hasn't been investigated or,
at least, published.
 
Consequently, the Australian test being negative for beer might not signify
that the beer is safe for celiac patients.  Further research on the type and
structure of peptides in beer is needed to settle the question of whether
beer contains any harmful peptides or not. If any harmful peptides remain in
beer, however, the amount is likely to be small.
 
Don Kasarda
Albany, California

ATOM RSS1 RSS2