The Pill Designed To Neutralize Gluten's Effects On Celiacs

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tex
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The Pill Designed To Neutralize Gluten's Effects On Celiacs

Post by tex »

Hi all,

According to this article, which Dee sent me a link to, Dr. Fasano is making good progress with his pill designed to keep the tight junctions closed between intestinal epithelial cells, and thereby provide a means for celiacs to ingest gluten without any symptoms:

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... 07.03413.x

Thanks for finding this, Dee.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by starfire »

That is good news. Thanks to you both for the posting. Now, if only we can get our doctors to prescribe the pill when it comes on the market. HaHa (actually not a laughing matter).

Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
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Post by tex »

Shirley,

You're right about it not being a laughing matter, because those of us without an official diagnosis, (like me, for example), are probably out of luck for sure, (unless we're willing to suffer through a gluten challenge.

Love,
Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by harvest_table »

I have very mixed feelings about this. Could benefit MCr's also and it will be interesting to see how it plays out

Take a pill, have a cupcake
Take a pill, eat pizza
Take a pill, have a bagel

Somehow, it just doesn't sit well with me. At this point I've committed to be gluten free the rest of my lifetime.

Thanks for the info.

Love,
Joanna
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Post by tex »

Hi Joanna,

I hear what you're saying, but I suspect that most of us would be be tempted to at least try the pill, to see if it works. We might rationalize our interest by claiming that it could come in handy if we had to travel somewhere where GF foods were not readily available. Of course, we all know that this can usually be handled simply by buying basic staples, and doing our own food preparation, and avoiding all processed foods, which we are pretty much doing already, anyway.

Eating processed foods often comes with considerable risks, even though they are certified GF, (since virtually all of them have small amounts of gluten which are supposedly below the "tolerance threshold" of most celiacs). There is really no such thing as gluten free in processed foods - almost all of it is "limited gluten", rather than gluten free. This brings to mind the possibility that some of us who are extremely sensitive to gluten, might want to consider using the pills when eating processed GF foods.

If the pills turn out like most newly-developed meds in America, they will probably be too expensive for routine use anyway, unless the insurance companies choose to cover them.

Love,
Tex
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Post by MaggieRedwings »

Morning All,

Tex - I agree with you that without the official diagnosis we probably have a snowball's chance of getting a script.

Joanna - I am with you. I have decided to stay gluten free and am sick of all the pills I am taking and don't want another one.

Love, Maggie
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Post by Dee »

Sooooooo,
Are you saying that Dr. Fines testing and results wouldn't hold up as far as being gluten intolerant and being eligible for the pill????

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Dee~~~~~
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Post by harvest_table »

Hey Dee,

I bet they will hold up in court.

Love,
Joanna
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Post by tex »

Hmmmmmmm. That's an interesting question. Well, He's a licensed MD, but the problem is that his tests aren't "officially" recognized as diagnostic tools for specific diseases, (such as celiac sprue and MC). Are they? IOW, for an "official" diagnosis, both diseases require a positive intestinal biopsy determination, (small intestine for celiac sprue, and colon for MC). His tests can prove gluten sensitivity, but I'm not sure that's classified as an "official" disease. Or is it?

Of course, if a doctor is allowed to diagnose celiac disease on the basis of a blood test for antibodies, (without a biopsy demonstrating villous atrophy), then it should follow that a positive stool test should also qualify.

Maybe we've still got a chance.

Love,
Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by mle_ii »

Hey Tex, Something that came to mind about this testing is that there have been a bunch of recent studys where they are finding anti-tTg and the other celiac antibodies in the mouth. Why is it that finding it here doesn't seem so controversial but finding it in the stool is? Strange indeed.

Mike
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Post by tex »

I guess some folks just don't like to talk about what happens at the distal end of the GI tract. LOL.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by mle_ii »

tex wrote:I guess some folks just don't like to talk about what happens at the distal end of the GI tract. LOL.

Tex
LOL Yeah, not many Drs want to look where the sun don't shine. ;D
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