WheatRescue 60 caps Microbiome Labs

Gluten is a combination of two storage proteins, glutenin and gliadin, that are found in the middle layer, or endosperm, of various cereal grains. Normally, the pancreas secretes digestive enzymes, like proteases and peptidases, to help break down proteins like gluten. However, imbalances in gut bacteria and the normal aging process can limit the body’s natural ability to produce these necessary digestive enzymes.

There’s no denying that gluten is problematic for many people. Many doctors will suggest a strict gluten-free diet, but recent discoveries have revealed this may not be enough. New research suggests that the small intestines of up to 60% of adults with celiac disease never completely heal despite following a gluten-free diet.

This could be due in part to gluten contamination in many “gluten-free” foods. A recent study examined 5,624 foods tested by 804 users and found that 32% of foods labeled “gluten-free” contained measurable amounts of gluten. Interestingly, gluten-free pizzas and pastas were the most likely to test positive for gluten with over 50% of samples showing gluten contamination.

But beyond the risk of gluten contamination, a gluten-free diet does not appear sufficient for repairing intestinal damage. In one study from 2010 of 241 subjects with celiac disease, only 35% of subjects saw mucosal recovery of the small intestine after 2 years of following a gluten-free diet, and only 66% saw mucosal recovery after 5 years of eating a gluten-free diet. Another study from 2009 examined 465 celiac subjects who adhered to a gluten-free diet for 16 months and found that total restoration of the intestinal damage inflicted by gluten was exceptionally rare (roughly 8%) in adult celiac patients despite following a gluten-free diet.4 These findings suggest that while a gluten-free diet can help to prevent further damage, the avoidance of gluten alone is not sufficient for total gut restoration.

A combination of probiotic spores and yeast can effectively support intestinal health and barrier function. Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast that can help support digestive health by producing lactate, B vitamins, and targeted antimicrobials to defend against pathogenic gut infections. S. boulardii has also been shown to be immunoprotective through the upregulation of IgA and IgG secretions in the intestines. Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis are spore-forming probiotics that are naturally designed to survive digestion, support intestinal barrier function, and enhance the microbial diversity of the gut microbiome.