If you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, you may be taking probiotic supplements to help treat unpleasant symptoms or to boost your regular treatment.

Some people, however, are experiencing worse symptoms of the disease after taking probiotic supplements.

Researchers may now have the answer as to why.

Probiotics and Celiac Disease

Almost a quarter of celiac patients use probiotic supplements on a regular basis. The supplement is also widely used by many others as it claims to better digestive health. The National Institutes of Health proclaim probiotics to be the most popular supplement in America in addition to multivitamins and fish oil.

Columbia’s Celiac Disease Center (CDC) conducted a survey amongst celiac patients and found that most of those who take probiotic supplements reported a higher quality of life.

Yet, they also reported more cramping, bloating, irregular bowel movements and other celiac disease symptoms while taking probiotic supplements.

Dr. Lebwohl , assistant professor of medicine at Columbia’s CDC says it is unclear if patients with increased symptoms of the disease were seeking out probiotic supplements first, or if the supplements were the cause of more symptoms.

It was, though, proven through study that over half of the top-selling probiotic supplements contain gluten.

“Gluten-Free” Probiotics

Gluten is a protein found in barley, wheat, and rye and is harmful to those suffering from celiac disease.

Others may have a wheat allergy or choose a gluten-free lifestyle for dietary reasons as it could promote better digestive systems and overall wellbeing.

As many celiac patients use probiotic supplements and experience symptoms of the disease, Dr. Lebwohl and co-professor Dr. Green conducted a study on what type of ingredients were found in these supplements.

The researchers bought 22 bestselling probiotic supplements as samples and took them to the lab for testing, using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The findings were shocking as 55% (12 of the 22) contained differing amounts of gluten. What was even more shocking was that 8 out of those 12 supplements boasted “gluten-free” on their labels.

“We don’t know exactly how widespread this is and whether the levels vary from batch to batch,” Dr. Green said. “The question is: Why are companies putting wheat or barley or rye in probiotic supplements?”

“Can anyone trust a gluten-free label?”

A product must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten to be eligible by the FDA to claim “gluten-free”.

The study had shown, however, that at least two of the 12 products that contained gluten with a “gluten-free” label had levels of the protein way over the FDA approval. One product produced high levels of wheat, while the other had high levels of barley.

It doesn’t help that one person’s gluten intolerance can be completely different from the next person. Some people can be extremely more sensitive to the 20 parts per million that the FDA deems to be “gluten-free”. So the real question to ask, as Dr. Lebwohl says, is why do “gluten-free” products, especially supplements, even have gluten?

“People use these natural products in an attempt to be healthy. Yet it’s a very poorly regulated industry,” says Dr. Green.

Many ongoing studies and government investigations have been put into place to suggest that most supplements do not actually contain what their labels claim. Some supplements even contain ingredients not found on the label, contributing to the $33 billion industry problem.

A study out of the University of Guelph found that many herbal supplements had substitutes, cheap fillers, and unlisted ingredients.

Alternative Probiotic Sources

Probiotics can be found in many foods and may be healthier than taking a harmful supplement full of gluten if you suffer from celiac.

Yogurt is, of course, the first choice to a source of probiotics. However, as we’ve learned, even a “gluten-free” yogurt can’t be trusted to be completely void of gluten. And if you suffer celiac or a severe gluten intolerance, it’s best to avoid yogurts.

But there are plenty of other foods that you can get your probiotics from for a healthy digestive system. And making foods at home with ingredients you buy or grow ensures you know what you’re eating! So no gluten can really mean Gluten-Free.

Fermented foods are an excellent source of probiotics, and easy to make at home too! Try these foods out for a healthier way to get your probiotics.

-Tempeh

-Kombucha

– Kefir

– Kimchi

– Sauerkraut

Source:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/many-probiotics-taken-for-celiac-disease-contain-gluten/?_r=1
http://www.thepatientceliac.com/2013/02/16/probiotics-and-celiac-disease/