Fixing Celiac Disease with Stem Cells

[edgeyveggie]

Really interesting.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...ll/120/4/e1120

[getoffgluten]

But there was much that alarmed me in this study as well:

1) The fact that the docs put this child BACK on gluten -- just to confirm their testing -- some studies suggest that that brief additonal exposure may have increased her risk of complications....like ....the leukemia?

2) The fact that she eats an unresistricted diet now -- even if her CD was "cured" whatever genes she got from her brother in the stem cell transplant -- given the 2/3 of us have the genes that under specific (not yet completely understood) circumstances can allow us to react to gluten...and the fact that many people with CD have a period of remission in adolescence -- what is in store for this girl down the road?

I assume that the antibody testing they did was looking at her blood. I would be very curious as to whether antibodies might show up in her stool -- using Enterolab's test.

JoAnn

[janessal]

I was thinking that too, who thought it would be a good idea for her to eat gluten again?

Otherwise very interesting, a little extreme to do for celiac alone but good for things like MS

[getoffgluten]

Now that is interesting...you think it might be appropriate for MS, but not celiac. I am just curious...why the distinction? Are you familiar with Roy Swank MD's data showing that something like 97% of MS cases go into remission on a very low-fat mostly plant-based diet.

I look a that whole issue of gluten-sensitivity as a golden opportunity for people (especially health care professionals) to make a paradigm shift.

Everyone accepts that if you have celiac, you MUST alter your diet. But there are so many many other diseases and conditions that also respond quite well to dietary changes. I assume it is because we have drugs to manage the others, that typically diet is not even considered in recommending treatment.

It is my hope, however that as more people learn how widespread gluten problems are, and learn how much better they can feel going GF, this will open a door in their brains -- that what we eat CAN be very very significant in how we feel on a day to day basis....and with that awareness -- the popularity of plant based diets will soar!

[janessal]

That's interesting I did not know that MS could be handled with diet, in that case I take it back

I do agree that doctors hardly ever bring up the topic of changing your diet but love to hand out pills.

[Grain Damaged]

My cousin was dx'd with MS and cut all the crap out of her diet (she used to drink *loads* of soda) and went mostly veggie in addition to upping her exercise regimen too. Her MS has been really manageable for years with this approach. Diet changes can most definitely help with other medical conditions but aren't necessarily the end all be all for most diseases. What I don't think most people get is you really are what you eat.