A gluten-free diet is not beneficial for healthy people, a new English study has confirmed.
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Eating a gluten-free diet in healthy people does not bring any benefit, a new study from scientists from the University of Reading, the University of Sheffield and Sheffield University Hospitals has shown.
The study, published in Gastroenterology, involved healthy volunteers without celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
All participants followed a gluten-free diet for two weeks prior to the start of the experiment. The volunteers were then divided into two groups. In the first group, participants continued to follow a gluten-free diet for an additional two weeks, while the second group contained organic gluten.
Doctors assessed the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn). ) for all participants before and after the experiment. The «gluten» group reported no more severe problems or side effects than the control group.
“It seems that gluten is often the unnecessarily bad guy in our diet, while gluten-containing cereals, especially whole grains, are important sources of protein, fiber and micronutrients,” said Paola Tosi, co-author of the study.
“The results of the work suggest that being gluten-free may not benefit the health of many who avoid it in their diets, believing that gluten is inherently bad for the human gut. Gluten does not cause stomach problems in people who do not have physiological sensitivity to it,” explained David Sanders, lead author of the study.
The researchers emphasized that a gluten-free diet is indicated for celiac disease (a disease caused by gluten intolerance, which affects about 1% of the population) and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. But before switching to a restrictive diet, you should seek advice from your doctor.
“This study attempts to draw a line between those who benefit from a gluten-free diet and who does not. Medical research confirms that gluten is good for most people, but the idea is now being developed that it is bad for everyone. Because of this, many people now follow a restrictive diet without any apparent problems, while others seem to have rejected it completely and consider going gluten-free a “fad”. This can cause real problems for people with clinical gluten sensitivity, as their medical needs are not always taken seriously,” said Iain Croall, co-author of the study.
According to the study, a gluten-free diet is The best treatment for clinical gluten sensitivity is celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The scientists commented that the study lasted for a relatively short time, but nevertheless, according to other scientific publications, any effects of gluten sensitivity become noticeable after one week.