Type 1 Diabetes linked to immune response to wheat

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Public release date: 20-Aug-2009

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(http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-08/ohri-t1d082009.php)

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Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Type 1 diabetes linked to immune response to wheat

Scientists at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the University

of Ottawa have discovered what may be an important clue to the cause of

type 1 diabetes. Dr. Fraser and his team tested 42 people with

type 1 diabetes and found that nearly half had an abnormal immune

response to wheat proteins. The study is published in the August 2009

issue of the journal Diabetes.

Early in life, the immune system is supposed to learn to attack foreign

invaders such as viruses and bacteria, while leaving the body's own

tissues and harmless molecules in the environment alone (including food

in the gut). When this process goes awry, autoimmune diseases and

allergies can develop. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that

occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the pancreas, the organ

that regulates blood sugar. Dr. 's research is the first to clearly

show that immune cells called T cells from people with type 1 diabetes

are also more likely to over-react to wheat. His research also shows

that the over-reaction is linked to genes associated with type 1 diabetes.

" The immune system has to find the perfect balance to defend the body

against foreign invaders without hurting itself or over-reacting to the

environment and this can be particularly challenging in the gut, where

there is an abundance of food and bacteria, " said Dr. , a Senior

Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Professor of

Medicine at the University of Ottawa. " Our research suggests that people

with certain genes may be more likely to develop an over-reaction 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. "

In a commentary accompanying the paper, diabetes expert Dr. Mikael Knip

of Finland said " These observations add to the accumulating concept that

the gut is an active player in the diabetes disease process. "

Dr. 's previous research has shown that a wheat-free diet can

reduce the risk of developing diabetes in animal models, but he notes

that more research will be required to confirm the link and determine

possible effects of diet changes in humans. Research is also needed to

investigate links with celiac disease, another autoimmune disease that

has been linked to wheat.

###

This research was funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The authors include Dr.

Majid Mojibian, Dr. Habiba Chakir, Dr. E. Lefebvre, A.

Crookshank, Brigitte Sonier and Dr. Keely, as well as Dr. .

Patients were enrolled at The Ottawa Hospital and the Children's

Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Jan Patenaude, RD, CLT

Consultant, Writer, Speaker

Director of Medical Nutrition

Signet Diagnostic Corporation

(Mountain Time)

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Specialist in IBS, migraine, fibromyalgia and inflammatory conditions

which are often triggered by adverse reactions to foods and chemicals.

Co-Author of the Certified LEAP Therapist Training Course.