Interesting relationship between gluten and weight gain

[shadycharacter]

This study on mice shows that mice with gluten in their diet put on more weight than without gluten. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26443339/

Wheat gluten intake increases weight gain and adiposity associated with reduced thermogenesis and energy expenditure in an animal model of obesity

Methods: Mice were fed four different experimental diets during 8 weeks: a control-standard diet (C D), a C D added with 4.5% of wheat gluten (C D-G), a high-fat diet (HFD) and a HFD added with 4.5% of wheat gluten (HFD-G). After 8 weeks, the mice received (99m)Tc-radiolabeled gluten orally to study gluten absorption and biodistribution or they underwent indirect calorimetry. [...] 

Results: Despite having had the same energy intake, C D-G and HFD-G mice exhibited increased body weight and fat deposits compared with their respective controls. (99m)Tc-GLU or its peptides were detected in the blood, liver and visceral adipose tissue, suggesting that gluten can even reach extraintestinal organs. ... 

Also interesting that they could detect gluten or its peptides in other parts of the body, like blood, liver and adipose tissue. Makes you wonder how long it will stay there and possibly cause a problem for those sensitive to gluten. Could gluten in adipose tissue be released when you lose weight? 

[Scott Adams]

Thank you for sharing this, it is interesting indeed! We'll likely do a summary of this study.