Gluten Digesting Enzymes
April 19, 2011
Question:
I heard there is a pill called “GlutenEase” to assist when you accidentally ingest gluten. It is supposed to break down the gluten before it reaches the intestines. It is not intended for large amounts of gluten. Have you heard of this, and does it work?
From,
Martha
Answer:
Hi Martha. Thanks for your question regarding GlutenEase. Yes, I have heard of this product. GlutenEase is not being marketed to individuals with celiac disease, but instead to people with gluten intolerance. That being said, there are no clinical research trials that I am aware of that have evaluated the efficacy of GlutenEase to “ensure complete breakdown of proteins safe and effectively,” per the manufacturer’s literature.
If you are interested in research that is being done on enzymes/ pharmaceuticals that might one day be available to digest gluten fragments that are toxic to people with celiac disease, I recommend you have a look at this list from the U.S. National Institutes of Health of clinical trials being done on potential treatments for celiac disease.
In good health,
EA Stewart, MBA, RD