An abnormal immune response to wheat proteins may contribute to type 1 diabetes, according to a study appears in the August issue of Diabetes..
Nearly half of the subjects with type 1 diabetes had immune system T-cells that overreacted to wheat. The researchers also identified genes associated with this abnormal immune response.
"The immune system has to find the perfect balance to defend the body against foreign invaders without hurting itself or overreacting to the environment, and this can be particularly challenging in the gut, where there is an abundance of food and bacteria," study author Dr. Fraser Scott, a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa, said in a hospital news release.
"Our research suggests that people with certain genes may be more likely to develop an overreaction to wheat and possibly other foods in the gut, and this may tip the balance with the immune system and make the body more likely to develop other immune problems, such as type 1 diabetes," he explained.
Bonnie - can you say gluten? Wheat has more gluten than any other grain. American wheat, in particular, has the highest gluten content of any wheat in the world, which is why we have the most gluten intolerance in the world.
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