To those who have gluten sensitivity, this damage

To those who have gluten sensitivity, this damage

It is estimated that millions around the world suffer from gluten sensitivity, an inherited autoimmune condition that can be incredibly debilitating and for which there is no cure besides avoiding gluten.

Many studies have shown that there is a negative effect of gluten on the digestive system and body mass, but what is new in the matter is what scientists in New Zealand recently found for the first time in the world, which is that gluten can cause encephalitis for those who are also sensitive to it, according to what he published. New Atlas website, citing Neuroendocrinology.

In a study of lab rats, University of Otago scientists discovered that experimental animals fed a diet of 4.5% gluten experienced inflammation in the hypothalamus, a region that plays a key role in metabolic functions such as regulating blood sugar.

Human encephalitis

“Mice are an excellent model for studying human physiology, as animals have a circulatory, digestive, hormonal and nervous system,” said lead researcher Alex Topps, assistant professor at the University of Otago. Therefore, it is very likely that the same inflammation that was detected in mice could occur in humans.”

gluten sensitivity

It is estimated that millions around the world suffer from gluten sensitivity, and statistics indicate that a proportion of them suffer from serious celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune condition that can be incredibly debilitating and for which there is no cure besides avoiding gluten and potential pollutants.

Two types of immune cells

"The brain has two types of immune cells similar to macrophages in the blood," said researcher Topps, astrocytes and microglia, noting that he and his colleagues found that gluten as well as a HFD diet increased the number of those immune cells. The effect of gluten added to the normal diet increased cell numbers to the same extent as if the mice were fed a high-fat HFD diet. When gluten was added to the HFD diet, the cell number went up even more.”

Severe immune reaction

Researchers don't know why this inflammation occurs, but it appears to be related to an aggressive immune system response such as what is seen in celiac disease.

"Components of gluten that are resistant to digestion could be the trigger for an immune response as seen in celiac patients that then appears in the brain," Topps said.

Brain damage

The researchers warned that “if gluten leads to inflammation of the hypothalamus in humans and thus brain damage, it can be bad in the long term, such as increased body weight and poor blood sugar regulation,” explaining that “if these effects become persistent, they may lead to It exacerbates the risk of, for example, impairment of memory function, which is associated with dysregulation of blood sugar.”

exceptional case

The results don't indicate "that gluten is bad for everyone," Tubbs said, but "for people who are gluten intolerant it may have health effects that may outweigh the potential benefits, meaning those who are gluten intolerant or have digestive disorders should avoid eating it altogether." .

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