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Celiac.com 08/21/2023 - Researchers from the University of Kentucky's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment have developed a new and highly effective method for detecting and measuring wheat flour contamination in gluten-free food. Their improved testing methods could significantly improve gluten-free food safety. Gluten-free diets are crucial for individuals with coeliac disease and other conditions that require avoiding gluten. In the UK, approximately 10% of consumers opt for gluten-free products. However, ensuring the absence of gluten in these foods is challenging due to possible cross-contamination in the supply chain. Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning to Detect Wheat The research team focused on detecting wheat (gluten) flour contamination in gluten-free cornbread using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and machine learning. FTIR employs infrared light absorption to identify a sample's organic and inorganic compounds. Akinbode Adedeji, the principal investigator and an associate professor in biosystems and agricultural engineering, highlighted the prevalence of allergen contamination in the food industry and the need for a rapid method to identify gluten contamination, especially given the sensitivity of individuals with gluten intolerance. To develop the method, the team prepared 13 different cornbread samples with varying levels of wheat flour contamination using corn flour and wheat flour. They analyzed the samples using FTIR with a 'special diamond accessory.' Before using machine learning, they pre-processed the spectra to reduce noise in the raw data and isolate key spectral features, simplifying the machine learning process. A Game-changer for Gluten-Free Food Safety This new testing method could be a game-changer for gluten-free food safety, as it offers manufacturers a reliable and efficient way to ensure their products are truly gluten-free, and safe for individuals with gluten-related conditions. By implementing this technique, the food industry can improve the accuracy of gluten-free labeling and increase consumer confidence in gluten-free products. Read more at foodmanufacturer.co.uk

Celiac.com 08/27/2012 - Because so many patients are now overweight upon diagnosis for celiac disease, and so fee present as classically underweight, doctors are revising the clinical presentation guidelines for celiac disease diagnosis. That being said, some researchers have voiced concern that some patients might gain further weight while on a gluten-free diet. Recently, a team of researchers conducted a study to assess the impact of a gluten-free diet on body mass index (BMI) in a nationwide group of celiac patients and to isolate any variables that might help to predict favorable or unfavorable BMI changes. The research team included Anniina Ukkola, Markku Mäki, Kalle Kurppa, Pekka Collin, Heini Huhtala, Leila Kekkonen, and Katri Kaukinen. They are affiliated variously with the School of Medicine, University of Tampere, and the Department of Gastroenterology and Alimentary Tract Surgery at Tampere University Hospital, both in Tampere, Finland. To assess weight and disease-related issues, the researchers looked at 698 newly detected adults who were diagnosed with celiac disease by classical or extra-intestinal symptoms or by screening. The researchers measured BMI upon celiac diagnosis and after one year on a gluten-free diet. They then compared the results against data for the general population. Study data showed that 4% of patients were underweight at celiac diagnosis, 57% were normal weight, 28% were overweight and 11% were obese. On a gluten-free diet, 69% of underweight patients gained weight, while 18% of overweight and 42% of obese patients lost weight. BMI remained stable for the other patients. Both symptom- and screen-detected celiac patients showed similar results. The patients with celiac disease showed a more favorable BMI pattern than the general population. The most favorable BMI changes were seen in patients with self-rated gluten-free diet expertise, along with those who were younger upon diagnosis. Dietary counseling did not seem to impact . The initial method of detection does not seem to matter for people with celiac disease who are following a gluten-free diet. Both screen-detected and symptom-detected celiac disease patients who followed a gluten-free diet showed similar improvements in body mass index (BMI). Source: Open Original Shared Link

Celiac.com 08/13/2012 - Research has indicated that giving small amounts of wheat-rich food to people with celiac disease, who are on a gluten-free diet, will trigger interferon (IFN)-γ-secreting T cells in the bloodstream. These T cells react to gluten, and can be easily detected. However, very little is known about how this procedure might be reproduced in the same patient groups that underwent two, or more, gluten challenges. A team of researchers recently set out to assess the reproducability of this short wheat challenge method for detecting immune an response to gluten. The research team included A. Camarca, G. Radano, R. Di Mase, G. Terrone, F. Maurano, S. Auricchio, R. Troncone, L. Greco, C. Gianfrani. They are affiliated with the Institute of Food Sciences-CNR, Avellino Department of Paediatrics and European Laboratory for the Investigation of Food-Induced Diseases, University of Naples, Naples, Italy. They evaluated fourteen celiac patients in remission who consumed wheat bread for 3 days, along with thirteen patients who underwent a second gluten challenge after 3-10 months on a strict gluten-free diet. The team then analyzed the immune reactivity to gluten in peripheral blood by detecting IFN-γ both before and 6 days after patients began a a gluten-inclusive diet. They found that gliadin-specific IFN-γ-secreting CD4(+) T cells increased significantly by day 6 of the first challenge. These cells arose as prevalently human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ restricted and with a phenotype of gut homing, as suggested by the expression of β7-integrin. They also saw a reaction to gliadin after the second wheat consumption, although the responses varied by individual at each challenge. The study showed that a short wheat challenge offers a non-invasive approach to investigate the gluten-related immune response in peripheral blood of people who are sensitive to gluten. Moreover, the study showed that the procedure can be reproduced in the same subjects after a gluten wash-out of at least 3 months. The results of this study mean that we can likely expect this procedure to find its way into clinical practice in the future. Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 2012 Aug;169(2):129-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2012.04597.x.