Eating Gluten May Trigger Obesity in Humans

Celiac.com 04/21/2023 - If you're trying to lose weight, you might want to think about the amount of gluten in your diet. A study from 2015 found that wheat gluten intake can contribute to weight gain and fat accumulation, at least in mice. 

The study sheds some light on the relationship between gluten and weight gain by investigating the effects of gluten intake on weight gain, fat metabolism, and energy expenditure in mice.

The Study

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For the study, researchers fed mice different diets for eight weeks. The diets included a control-standard diet, a standard diet with added wheat gluten, a high-fat diet, and a high-fat diet with added wheat gluten. Mice that had wheat gluten added to their diets gained more weight, and had more fat deposits, despite having the same energy intake as mice in the control group.

The Findings

Tests also found gluten in the blood, liver, and visceral adipose tissue, suggesting that it can reach organs beyond the intestinal tract. The study found that gluten intake reduced thermogenesis-related protein expression in subcutaneous and brown adipose tissues and lowered oxygen volume consumption, which points to reduced energy expenditure. 

Mice on a high-fat diet with added gluten also had lower levels of adiponectin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α and PPARγ, and hormone-sensitive lipase in cultures of isolated adipocytes. By contrast, in mice on a standard diet, added gluten intake increased interleukin-6 expression, and tended to increase tumor necrosis factor expression. This suggests that gluten may have different effects on fat metabolism and inflammation, depending on the diet.

Conclusions: Wheat Gluten Intake Can Lead to Increased Weight Gain and Fat Deposits

Overall, the study suggests that wheat gluten intake can lead to increased weight gain and fat deposits, along with reduced thermogenesis and energy expenditure, especially in mice on a high-fat diet. 

The study also highlights the potential systemic effects of gluten, which can reach organs beyond the intestine. While the study was conducted in mice, the findings suggest that gluten may play a role in human weight gain as well. 

While more research is needed to better assess any connection between these findings and gluten consumption in humans, the study does offer some interesting food for thought. Stay tune for more on this and related stories.

Read more at Int J Obes (Lond)