This recent study has me wondering if perhaps Beano might help out as well. Aspergillus niger is also found in Beano and as the study below tells us that gluten is degraded by this enzyme.
Background Celiac disease is caused by an immune response to gluten. As gluten proteins are proline-rich they are resistant to enzymatic digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, a property that likely contributes to the immunogenic nature of gluten. Aims In this study we have determined the efficiency of gluten degradation by a post- proline cutting enzyme, prolyl endoprotease from Aspergillus niger (AN-PEP), in a dynamic system that closely mimics the human gastrointestinal tract (TIM-system). Methods Two experiments were performed. In the first, a slice of bread was processed in the TIM system with and without co-administration of AN-PEP. In the second, a standard fast food menu was used. Samples of the digesting meals were taken from the stomach, duodenum, jejunum and ileum compartments at time zero until four hours after the start of the experiment. In these samples the levels of immunogenic peptides from gliadins and glutenins were assessed by monoclonal antibody based competition assays, Western blot analysis and proliferation T-cell assays. Results AN-PEP accelerated the degradation of gluten in the stomach compartment to such an extent that hardly any gluten reached the duodenum compartment. Conclusion AN-PEP is capable of accelerating the degradation of gluten in a gastrointestinal system that closely mimics in vivo digestion. This implies that co-administration of AN-PEP with a gluten containing meal might eliminate gluten toxicity, thus offering patients the possibility to (occasionally) abandon their strict gluten free diet.
FWIW and why I didn't put it in the main forum, this is purely lab work and not even tested in a real human body only in a simulation of the gut. So if this helps then great, but I hope that folks who have an allergic reaction to gluten don't go out and eat it just because of this. At least not yet until it's studied more. Even the study mentions using this (occasionally). Though this might not stop me from trying it anyway. :)
Don't try regular, brand name Beano....it says right on the label that it contains wheat!!! Perhaps a generic equivalent with different fillers....I thought I remembered this and we have some (stocking stuffer for the husband who has everything ) - so I double-checked!!
) - so I double-checked!!