Dr. Peter Osborne explains the Genetics of Gluten Sensitivity

Category: Celiac and Food Allergy News

Written by Cilie Yack

Dr. Peter Osborne explains the importance of understanding Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

Parents of Kids with Gluten Intolerance will learn the possible pitfalls of eating gluten when you have a gluten positive gene.

Dr. Peter Osborne, Diplomate with the American Clinical Board of Nutrition, posted a wonderful video by Glutenology from the Charlotte Gluten Free Expo April 30, 2011

The seminar explains in detail why a negative test for celiac doesn't mean a patient with stomach or intestinal problems isn't sensitive to gluten.

If you've ever been confused about the various genes related to gluten sensitivity, and about what it means to test negative to celiac but still have antibodies, this video is for you.

If it seems a bit technical, watch it more than once. There are many people who get a blood test for celiac that is negative but they still have symptoms when they eat food with gluten in it.

This video explains why that happens.

In This Video About Gluten Sensitivity

Dr. Osborne explains why patients with symptoms or positive serology and normal biopsies should really look at the genetics of gluten sensitivity carefully, rather than relying on a negative celiac test result as a reason to eat foods with gluten in it like bread, pasta, and cereal.

Genetic testing will show you what your body will do when exposed to gluten over time. DNA testing is a key piece of the puzzle for irritable bowel patients. Most people don't realize that once a person has developed a full blown autoimmune disease caused by a gluten sensitive gene, it will take 2-3 years to put the disease into remission.

He explains in his lecture that genetic testing for the broad spectrum of gluten sensitivity is the only way to tell patients if they will have a full blown autoimmune disease in the future when they've spent a lifetime eating gluten. For InfantsDr. Osborne suggests that early testing on healthy infants would result in a positive impact on eating habits for a lifetime and avoid future health complications.

Most tests only look for the two genes that are associated with celiac. There are several additional genes that can affect the gut but are not associated with celiac, and Dr. Osborne explains this in detail. Dr. Osborne says, "Blood tests are not specific and most commonly are negative. Biopsy is only specific for celiac disease and it's not an accurate representation of our intestines. Stool tests are accurate but they are limited to gliadin. So they are only really looking at one of the glutens  and they are not looking at all of the glutens. It is a limited test." This is why he stresses that DNA testing is the best way to determine whether or not your family should consider going gluten free. For more information, visit Osborne'sGluten Free Society

Childhood Food Allergies Linked to Asthma and Environmental Allergies later in life

Category: Celiac and Food Allergy News

Written by Cilie Yack

After testing 2 million children, Quest Laboratory finds that childhood food allergies are common

They also discovered these kids are at higher risk of developing environmental allergies and asthma later in life.

This information is available in the Quest Diagnostics Health Trends ™ Report. This was the largest ever national food allergy study released by Quest Diagnostics.

A Common CauseQuest's study proves that food allergies are more common among children than we think, and they lead to environmental allergies and asthma later in life.

Allergies are one of the most common health conditions in America, affecting 20% of the population. The Center for Disease Control has issued a recent report claiming that cases of asthma are increasing. Doctors are beginning to have a bigger interest in allergy science. Quest Diagnostics, a laboratory testing company, is the latest company to join in on allergy research. Quest has released the early results of their momentous study, "Allergies Across America" this week. The complete study will be released to the public at the end of this month, but the initial results are astounding.

The study reveals six key findings about eggs, milk, peanuts, and wheat:

The study also showed that children 5 and under enrolled in Medicaid, which is free public health care from the government, didn't get allergy testing. Quest said that they were 18% less likely to be tested for food allergies than children of the same age group covered by private insurance.

In an interview, study investigator Harvey W. Kaufman, M.D., senior medical director of Quest Diagnostics says:

"Allergy and asthma often go hand in hand, and the development of asthma is often linked to allergies in childhood via the allergy march. Given the growing incidence of asthma in the U.S., our study underscores the need for clinicians to evaluate and treat patients, particularly young children, suspected of having food allergies in order to minimize the prospect that more severe allergic conditions and asthma will develop with age. It also demonstrates that patients with asthma should minimize their exposure to allergens that could trigger a severe asthma response."

This article shows that without allergy testing and early treatment, kids with hidden food allergies run the risk of having problems with hay fever and asthma when they grow up.