IBS Research Re: Wheat
#204976 - 08/12/05 11:10 AM
|
|
|
|
belinda
Reged: 10/09/03
Posts: 474
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
|
|
|
I noticed a study in Heather's most recent newsletter on a finding that IBS people may be hypersensitive to antigens contained in wheat, beef, pork and lamb (www.helpforibs.com/messageboards/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=library&Number=190707&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&vc=1)
Does anyone know what this means? For example, does it mean we may have to remove wheat from our diet? Red meat (beef, lamb and pork) is already listed as a trigger food, but wheat isn't.
I've noted that quite a few people (including myself) on this message board seem to have trouble with wheat and I wonder if this research explains why.
Belinda
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Here's an article I found with a bit more information about that study and what it means: Blood Test Could Help Find Foods That Trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I found the last paragraph VERY interesting:
Dr. Kumar said that after completing this study he and his colleagues initiated a diet exclusion study based on the IgG4 data and he said the preliminary results of that study are "very encouraging."
I'd like to know more about this as well. This is different than gluten intolerance, correct? I have noticed problems when eating a lot of wheat/bread products. I thought it might be a yeast intolerance since I don't have celiac disease; however, maybe this means it is the wheat?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I was curious about this, too, but kinda hesitated to say anything because I didn't want to sound inflammatory ... the thing is, though, Heather prefaced the article by making some comment like "gee, what a surprise" [about the red meat], but said nothing about the wheat -- even though so many of the foods she mentions as being safe are wheat-based things like French/sourdough bread, FF saltines, pretzels, etc. I guess it makes me uncomfortable that she would point to that study as further proof that red meat is bad but say nothing about the study's evidence that wheat is bad. Obviously IBS is a very individual thing, but red meat is one of those things that is supposed to be a trigger for everyone (like dairy). So if the study is supposed to be further proof of this, then wouldn't it also mean that we should all be avoiding wheat??? And if the part about wheat is a load of nonsense, then how come that doesn't mean that the part about red meat is a load of nonsense? 
Again, I'm NOT trying to sound inflammatory. I just feel that this is sending some confusing signals. And I don't know about you guys, but I'm confused enough on my own, thanks! 
--------------------
jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
about excluding people who might have celiac, and because it wasn't clarified at all if they were testing whole wheat or refined wheat, and I'd love to know if it makes a difference. I'm hoping they come out with a much more full blown study along these lines.
- H
--------------------
Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
that I have a wheat intolerance. I have been tested for Coeliac and gluten intolerance and am fine. I actually got much much worse on this diet (possibly because all I was pretty much eating was wheat things, bread, pasta, muffins etc). I tried a GF diet which helped a lot with the D but not with the pain. I then reintroduced gluten but not wheat and felt no different. I ate pasta the other night and was in pain for 36 hours afterwards (although no D but that's probably my AD which makes me somewhat C). So I'd be very interested in more info too when it's available 
--------------------
Amy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'd appreciate it if someone could summarize this article in plain old English for me!!....does the study suggest a diet???...
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
No, this study doesn't suggest more diet restrictions for IBSers--it doesn't even prove that these foods cause IBS. It did show that the IBSers participating in the study were more sensitive to certain foods. However, it wasn't a very large sample (only 132 people), didn't provide information as to whether or not these IBSers had other intolerances (or exclude them as Heather mentioned earlier), and it doesn't seem that they even got to finish their study (see the skin prick section of the article linked below).
I found an article on Medicinenet that I think explains what the study was about in simpler terms: Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Linke to Foods? .
I hope I didn't confuse you even more! It's sort of difficult for me to get through it as well, but I thought it was interesting and am always glad to see more research being done in the area of IBS. I think it's good that they are starting to do more studies to see how and if certain foods affect IBSers. Until they do more extensive studies, I don't think this means we need to anything else than what we're doing right now (keeping a food journal, finding our own personal triggers, using a SFS, etc).
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Maria, that article was definitely easier to understand, thanks. I'll be interested to hear about any follow ups to this, too. When I was first having problems I had a blood test done and it indicated that I had a moderate wheat allergy! However, I've never noticed wheat to bother me, and as a matter of fact crackers and toast are the safest things for me to eat when I'm having problems. I do wonder what would happen if I gave up wheat, but I'm just afraid to do it. Interesting that this study found so many problems with it.
--------------------
"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I am assuming the studies were based on plain wheat, not necessarily whole wheat, since it didn't specify whole wheat, but just wheat in genereal.
What are you guys going to do? This is awfully confusing...especially for people who are eating wheat and not yet stable or feeling better, and still battling pain, cramps, and either C or D, bloat, etc...
--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi, Beth! I don't think anyone (who's not celiac)should exclude wheat from their diets right now; the study didn't suggest doing that it just showed that there may be certain foods that cause certain antibodies in certain IBSers. I think the only conclusion they came up with was to do more studies. I think I might wait and see what future studies on this subject prove or disprove.
However, if you're following the IBS diet and lifestyle recommendations, keeping a food journal, still not feeling better, and you think it might be wheat related---well, you should either discuss this with your doctor or decide for yourself if you want to "eliminate" it for a while. You should just keep doing what you're doing to figure out your triggers.
My concern is that some people might start changing their diet again without giving the IBS diet a chance. And if a person's constantly changing their eating patterns or deviating from the diet guidelines before they're stable, how will they be able to tell what is triggering attacks? Plus change itself is a stressor and dramatically changing your diet could be enough of an intrinsic stressor that it could possibly cause an attack--and then the person blames the diet. I think it's very important to commit to one thing for a while (at least four weeks) in order to track what/how/when you're eating and to get some sort of regularity going with our digestive tract.
Unfortunately, I'm irregular today. I've been up since 4 am, so forgive me if I don't make any sense. 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Not me  , since I found out I tested negative. In fact, when
I go home I'm going to dig in to those wheat based pretzels.
Besides, I just love tortillas too. -Bob
--------------------
<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I probably missed it somewhere, not sure...but how do you get tested for wheat issues? Just from a regular ol' doctor?
--------------------
yep, it's me,
Rebecca
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Bob shouldn't eat the wheat...or kidding because you're not going to stop? I'm not sure which post you are referring to in this sarcastic manner! 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
More conclusive testing/evidence is necessary before a general recommendation for wheat avoidance among IBS'ers is recommended. There are too many variables in the study. I do believe, though, that if wheat causes a problem for the individual, even without test results showing allergies/sensitivities, it should be avoided. Many books re: IBS do recommend avoiding wheat. The best course of action if wheat is a trigger is to consult with your MD, and/or seek testing, and/or do an exclusion diet for 6 weeks or more to see if there is an improvement/alteration in symptomology. For me, personally, wheat is an anti-nutrient as I am wheat allergic.
Kate.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm not going to stop eating wheat! I have tried going gluten free and all that happened was I got seriously grumpty from not being able to eat my favourite foods and the IBS got worse as my SF staples were fewer.
That research has NOT been specific enough to warrant anyone changing their diet based on just that.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
