Could Hookworm Infections Help Cure Celiac Disease?

OMG... This would be a dream come true. Please please God make it work!

Cecilia from Argentina

Hookworms is a thought, but until scientists can tell for sure that it's beneficial I don't think I would do it. Have you heard of breeding with a Histocompatible person? A man on a science site told me that could reduce the immune system attacking itself--I wish science would look into that as an option so my future kids may not have to be wheat intolerant.

I for one would gladly sign up! Anything to not have to be super vigilant about my diet. If intentional hookworm infection comes to a gastroenterologist in my area, I'll go right for it. Whatever it takes.

Well it sounds sufficiently yucky for me to sign up and really, these initial trial folks are true guinea pigs in the sense that the risk that this hypothesis isn't taking into account that the risks from hookworm infection will outweight any potential benefits from blunting or muting the autoimmune reaction to gluten.

I'll pin my hopes on the enzyme combo or larazetide acetate, thank you.

I myself live in the US and have had Crohn's for 10 years and am gluten sensitive (i.e. wheat/gluten triggers Crohn's flareups). I was inoculated with 25 hookworm (Necantor Americanus) this past June. Since that time, my Crohn's symptoms have been getting consistently better and now are a fraction as bad as they once were. Generalized inflammation is much less. However, as far as gluten sensitivity goes, it will get worse before it gets better with this therapy.

This is because the hookworm actually cause the body change anatomically and flatten its villi out (in an attempt to flush the worm out). Even people that historically have no problem with gluten will oftentimes become gluten sensitive at this time due to this for a period of months. After this change completes, the hope with me is that the gluten sensitivity symptoms largely reside, since the worms also promote the creation of peripheral T suppressor cells.

The therapy does not have a linear path of improvement and is long term (the brunt of benefits begin after 4-6 MONTHS, and it will take 1 to 1.5 YEARS to see the full effect) but I have been amazed with my progress so far due to a little worm. Fingers crossed.

BTW, there is a wealth of published literature out there about hookworm and autoimmune diseases. I reviewed all of that, talked to my GI doctor and family, and took the plunge.

Would love to know more about this study but definitely would consider participation. Interesting theory from an RN point of view.

I have been living with Celiac for 20 years and look forward to the day they come up with a supplement for us. But, oh my, I could not think of allowing worms into my body. I'm sure I would have nightmares of them crawling around inside. I wish good luck to those that are brave enough to do this.

The researchers expectations for a control group to eat four pieces of white bread for three to five days is dangerous for those individuals. I hope hookworm therapy will not prove so as well.

I have had Celiac disease for 30 years, since my mid twenties, and follow a strict gluten free diet. If an unknown sneaks in the reactions are severe and have become more severe as time has gone by. If I ate four pieces of bread a day for 3-5 days I would not be able to tolerate it. One bite of bread would cause 6 hours of pure pain and two more days to be able to be able to absorb nutrients without pain. I would not sign up for this as the damage done to my gut by ingesting that much white bread would not outweigh a cure. After reading rbd's remark, it doesn't sound like it's healthy due to the body's worm elimination process. No thanks!

I do not doubt that something that has occurred in my body, could also be cured by something from nature. For those who brave the frontier and participate in the study, my prayers are with you. If there is a cure, YEAH! If not, I am still happy to be here and in good quality of health. Would I be willing to participate, absolutely.

Wonderful hope!!!

My daughter could do this...we live in the northeast USA. Please keep us updated!

I have had problems from gluten intolerance for15 years but have only been gluten free for 6 months. I feel no better but the few symptoms I had are better. But I miss eating my favorite foods so much that if this works and the side effects aren't worse than the cure, I would definitely do this.