Gluten genes, was Smoking & Health

[Guest guest]

>If indeed the

>numbers are much higher than previously thought then it basically shoots

>down the notion of selective adaptation to gluten due to the length of time

>it's been consumed in various regions.

Suze:

Not necessarily shoots it down. The " adaptation " theory is based on how

prevalent the

genes are, and AFAIK they are still rarer in the Middle East than

in the northern countries. Some populations they never did TEST for the

celiac genes though, so it will be interesting to see what the true genetic

prevalence is in random testing. Genetic distribution isn't simple either:

they keep saying " celiac is rare in Africa " but in fact some of the worst

" outbreaks " have been in African populations that are suddenly getting

wheat (or higher gluten wheat). Even in a country that DOES eat wheat,

there are pockets of inbred people who get NO wheat. But 95% of the

people with celiac have the genes and the relationship is very clear

between the genes and the disease.

And yeah, I agree with your earlier post, the " blood reactions " are basically

IgG.

The relation to IgE allergies isn't so straightforward ... IgE allergies to

wheat

are rather rare it seems, though IgG is common. It was interesting that while

I was travelling I got some gluten, and for the next few days I started

getting IgE allergy symptoms to dust etc, which is something I don't normally

get. I'm convinced there is a connection there, like maybe the body is just

on " high alert " once it's detected one allergen or something?

Heidi Jean