Gluten is a type of seed storage protein group found in some cereal grains. Although the word" gluten " is usually used only when referring to wheat gluten, it is used in the medical literature to cover all grains that naturally contain proteins called prolamine and glutelin.
Effect Of Gluten-Free Diet On Diabetes
Gluten-free nutrition has been proven to work in diseases of gluten metabolism disorders. In addition, there are studies on whether it will work in different disease groups. One of these diseases is diabetes.
Gluten has multiple effects in the body, especially in the intestines, can cause enteropathy in Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and increases intestinal permeability. It is thought that these conditions can improve with a gluten-free diet. In animals, gluten has been found to cross the intestinal barrier along with lipase (LPs) among other substances, accumulating in different tissues, including islets and adipose tissue. Also in animal beta cells, gluten peptides are thought to induce insulin secretion and may induce beta cell stress, dysfunction, loss, and autoimmune, thus having an effect on both Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The table below shows how a gluten-free diet can improve Type 1 diabetes by comparing a standard diet with a gluten-free diet.
The table can be explained as:
- (A) the gluten-free diet reduces intestinal permeability and increases the villus-crypt (v: c) ratio, thereby preventing food particles such as gliadin peptides from crossing the intestinal barrier and reacting to the pancreas. The gluten-free diet increases the number of Akkermansia bacteria and the amount of short-chain fatty acids (KZYA) such as butyrate, among other changes.
- (B) a gluten-free diet, CD4+ T helper (TH) cells reduced interferon gamma (IFNG) secretion of gamma-delta T cell receptor (gdTCR)+ T cells, reduced interleukin (IL) 22 secretion and fewer activated (NKG2D+) and natural killer (NK) cells and modulates innate and adaptive immune system, resulting. TH17 cell numbers decrease and immune suppressor M2 macrophage numbers + regulatory T cell (Treg) numbers increase.
- (C) gluten-free diet reduces beta cell stress by reducing insulin secretion. This can maintain islet count, reduce insulin, and improve T1D.
Can a gluten-free diet cure metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a table defined by the presence of at least three risk factors for increased waist circumference, triglyceride height, low HDL, high blood pressure, and high fasting blood glucose. It poses a risk for many diseases. A study looked at the effect of gluten-free diet on risk factors for metabolic syndrome. The results can be interpreted as” a gluten-free diet caused a decrease in waist circumference, lower triglyceride levels, and improved glucose tolerance in individuals with metabolic syndrome." But the short-term nature of the study is insufficient to see the results of a gluten-free diet on health in the longer term.
Can Healthy Individuals Benefit By Using Gluten-Free Products? Does A Gluten-Free Diet Have An Effect On Weight Loss?
Considering the issues we have studied so far, we can say that a gluten-free diet works in some gluten metabolism diseases, especially Celiac Disease. In addition, it can also have an effect on different disease groups.
Currently, there is an uncontrolled and unconscious orientation towards gluten-free products and gluten-free nutrition. There is no evidence that gluten-free products, contrary to popular belief, have an effect on weight loss or have beneficial effects on healthy individuals. Moreover, gluten - free products, compared to their gluten-containing equivalents, are vitamin-mineral-poor, low in protein, high in fat and salt.
Individuals who follow a gluten-free diet should pay attention to macro-and micronutrient deficiencies in the diet, should be informed by a specialist about the use of gluten-free products.