NEW TO CELIAC DISEASE

[Scott Adams]

@dixonpete sent me a personal message with:

Quote

My celiac status would still be in doubt because back in 2008 when I figured out it was gluten that was making me sick I refused to go back on for the biopsy - because gluten was making me so sick.

My last major gluten exposure without hosting hookworms was 9 years ago. I was sick for a full day and a half with projectile vomiting and projectile diarrhea all while trying not to pass out. Without hookworms I'd never be able to complete the gluten consumption requirement required for the biopsy. 

Thanks for the clarification/reminder--so you've never been diagnosed with celiac disease, which means that you may not have it at all, and might have the more common non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). This is a very good reason why you should avoid promoting hookworm treatment instead of the gluten-free diet for those with celiac disease. At this point there is only anecdotal evidence to support the idea that hookworm treatment might allow a celiac to eat gluten, but the science/studies done so far definitely do not support this idea--and quite the opposite--they show that people with celiac disease should not eat gluten.

Whether or not you agree with the outcome of those studies is, to me at least, irrelevant--they are the best science that we have to date on this topic, and @John Scott's claim that if only the studies were conducted differently, then the outcome would have supported the idea that someone with celiac disease and hookworm infection can eat gluten is just an assumption--which comes from a non-scientist who has never conducted a study, and isn't an expert on celiac disease.

I do think hookworm therapy might be helpful for certain people with certain autoimmune issues, but it definitely isn't for everyone. For those with celiac disease the best option is still a gluten-free diet, and if they are worried about cross-contamination they should consider AN-PEP enzymes like GliadinX (a sponsor here) before hookworm treatment, as there have been many more studies done on AN-PEP enzymes than hookworm therapy for celiac disease.