I believe that Gluten like Vit D is an important consideration to all PwMS.
Which makes me also wonder if dry Cat Food has gluten Ed?
Gluten sensitivity is a common issue in MS and it may be a compounding
effect issue!!!!
"Abstract
Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease of small intestine associated
with sensitivity to gluten. The clinical manifestations are often of
gastrointestinal nature, although the disease may be present
asymptomatically as well. It is a chronic disease and in the absence of
overt neurological involvement, extended gluten exposure may give rise to
silent or subtle morphological and white-matter changes in central nervous
system. The present study investigates such changes using brain volumetry
and the assessment of white-matter tissue in CD patients without
neurological symptoms. Seventeen CD patients without any neurological
involvement were included in the study and went under neurological
evaluation and anatomical MRI. Individual gray- and white-matter, and
subcortical structure volumes were acquired for using automated volumetric
analyses. The observed white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) evaluated using
Age-Related White-Matter Changes scale. Findings show a bilateral decrease
in cortical gray-matter and caudate nuclei volumes in CD compared to
controls. Negative correlations were found between the duration of the
disease and the volumes of the affected regions. Cerebellum was seemingly
unaffected. In addition, significantly higher proportion of WMH was found in
CD patients, specifically in bilateral frontal and occipitoparietal
cortices. We observed a significant gray-matter and caudate nucleus atrophy
in the CD patients in the absence of marked neurological symptoms. Present
findings point out to a need for histopathological investigations
potentially focusing on anti-TG2 antibodies, and serial volumetric analyses
on the CD-related cortical and subcortical changes."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23615718
RESEARCHERS FIND INCREASED ZONULIN LEVELS AMONG CELIAC DISEASE PATIENTS
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found that
the human protein zonulin, which regulates the permeability of the
intestine, is at increased levels during the acute phase of celiac disease.
The discovery suggests that increased levels of zonulin are a contributing
factor to the development of celiac disease and other autoimmune disorders
such as insulin dependent diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid
arthritis. The findings are published in the April 29 issue of the journal
Lancet.
"Zonulin works like the traffic conductor or the gatekeeper of our body's
tissues," says lead author Alessio Fasano, M.D., professor of pediatrics and
physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and director of
Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the University of Maryland
Hospital for Children. "Our largest gateway is the intestine with its
billions of cells. Zonulin opens the spaces between cells allowing some
substances to pass through while keeping harmful bacteria and toxins out,"
explains Dr. Fasano.
Earlier research conducted by Dr. Fasano discovered that zonulin is also
involved in the regulation of the impenetrable barrier between the blood
stream and the brain, known as the blood-brain barrier.
Celiac disease offered Dr. Fasano and his team a unique model for
understanding the dynamic interaction between zonulin and the immune system.
Celiac disease is a genetic disorder that affects one out of every 300
people in Europe, but its prevalence in the United States is not fully
known. People who suffer from the disorder are unable to eat foods that
contain the protein gluten, which is found in wheat and other grains. The
gluten sets off a reaction that can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain,
malabsorption of nutrients, and other gastrointestinal problems. Celiac
disease can be easily treated by avoiding foods with gluten.
With celiac disease, the body reacts to gluten by creating antibodies that
attack the intestine and cause severe damage over time. Unlike other
autoimmune disorders, scientists also know that celiac disease is triggered
by a specific antigen, which is the protein gluten. Celiac disease is also
known to cause increased permeability of the intestine. In addition, many
people who suffer from celiac disease also suffer from other autoimmune
disorders.
The research team examined the intestinal tissue of seven people with celiac
disease, and six patients without the disease. Patients with active celiac
disease showed higher levels of zonulin and anti-zonulin antibodies compared
to non-celiac patients and patients in remission, who were eating a
gluten-free diet.
"With celiac disease, we could never understand how a big protein like
gluten was getting through to the immune system. Now we have the answer,"
explains Dr. Fasano. "People with celiac have an increased level of zonulin,
which opens the junctions between the cells. In essence, the gateways are
stuck open, allowing gluten and other allergens to pass. Once these
allergens get into the immune system, they are attacked by the antibodies,"
adds Dr. Fasano.
"I believe that zonulin plays a critical role in the modulation of our
immune system. For some reason, the zonulin levels go out of whack, and that
leads to autoimmune disease," explains Fasano.
Dr. Fasano adds that more research is needed. He is currently conducting
experiments with diabetic rats. Preliminary results from his experiments
show that insulin dependent diabetes occurs in lab rats about three to four
weeks after increased intestinal permeability. The researchers believe the
increased intestinal permeability is associated with increased levels of
zonulin.
"We are at the threshold of exciting discoveries in this field," says Dr.
Fasano. "We now have a new way of looking at our cells. Our cells are not
stacked together like bricks. They are a dynamic field, which is constantly
in flux."
http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/zonulin.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood-brain_barrier
Quote:
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a separation of circulating blood and the
brain extracellular fluid (BECF) in the central nervous system (CNS). It
occurs along all capillaries and consists of tight junctions around the
capillaries that do not exist in normal circulation. Endothelial cells
restrict the diffusion of microscopic objects (e.g. bacteria) and large or
hydrophilic molecules into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), while allowing the
diffusion of small hydrophobic molecules (O2, hormones, CO2). Cells of the
barrier actively transport metabolic products such as glucose across the
barrier with specific proteins. This barrier also includes a thick basement
membrane and astrocytic endfeet.
Thick basement membrane? Astrocytic endfeet? Brain extracellular fluid? And
that's only the first paragraph....
Zonulin is increased in our blood when we eat foods that contain glutens--
http://journals.lww.com/jpgn/Fulltext/2 ... n.232.aspx
EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE CELIAC DISEASE OR A GLUTEN ALLERGY, ZONULIN WILL
AFFECT YOU.
Zonulin works as a gatekeeper in the intestine and also in the blood brain
barrier. The more zonulin you have in your blood, the more permeable the
tight junctions of your blood vessels become. Not a good thing, if we want
to maintain a healthy lining in our guts, and blood brain barrier.
Dr. Hubbard discussed research into zonulin in his presentation at the
conference. As many of you know, the Hubbard Foundation recommends a
gluten-free diet to maintain endothelial integrity and a healthy blood brain
barrier.
So, what is gluten?? Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly
found in rye, wheat, and barley. Therefore, it is found in most types of
cereals and in many types of bread. Not all foods from the grain family,
however, contain gluten. Examples of grains that do not have gluten include
wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, oats, soybeans,
and sunflower seeds.
http://www.youtube.com/user/HubbFound