Has anyone been following the Barley Enzyme as a potential help for CD? It piqued my interest as I wondered if it would be something that was "natural" and just added to the diet. I have been reading about Zonulin , but would hesitate to put my 3 kids on it even if the FDA said it was ok. (ummmm...Vioxx anyone?)

Allison

BETHESDA, MD (June 30, 2006) – A new enzyme originally developed for commercial food processing turns out to also quickly and nearly-completely break down whole gluten molecules as well as the T cell stimulatory peptides that cause celiac disease, a digestive disease with no current effective treatment other than avoiding wheat, barley or rye products.

In addition, the enzyme operates best in just the kind of physiological environment found in the human stomach and works 60 times faster than an earlier promising enzyme, which was not effective in acidic conditions and was inactivated by pepsin, both of which are found in the stomach.

“On the basis of our results, there now is a realistic chance that oral supplementation with an enzyme can ensure gluten degradation in the stomach before reaching the small intestine, where it causes problems for people with celiac disease,” according to Frits Koning, researcher at the Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands, who headed the team that has published a new research paper on its work.

The paper, “Highly efficient gluten degradation with a newly identified prolyl endoprotease: implications for celiac disease,” is in the online American Journal of Physiology- Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, published by The American Physiological Society. Research was by Dariusz Stepniak, Liesbeth Spaenij-Dekking, Cristina Mitea, Martine Moester, Arnoud de Ru, Renee Baak-Pablo, Peter van Veelen and Frits Koning of Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands, and Luppo Edens of DSM Food Specialties, Delft.

Companies are rushing to find "cures" for CD - zonulin inhibitor, enzymes. Sounds good and I would love something I could take when eating away from home. What worries me is what if this stuff becomes available and there is a collapse of the GF market. What happens to those who don't want to try a new drug. What will be the risks of long term use? So many drugs don't get their black box warning or get pulled until years of use and many people are hurt.

I don't want the research to stop. I am only cautious.

I know the GF diet is "safe".

Thanks for posting this - always good to stay up with the news.
Anne

I recently read something that warned you shouldn't take a new drug until it had been on the market for 7 years. Probably good advice.

I guess that was my "question".....would this be considered a drug with all of the scary repercussions of side effects?


Allison

There are enzymes for people with gluten problems. Houston Nutracueticals makes them. These are somewhat expensive and may not work for everyone. But the do seem to be the main ones known for gluten issues. They allow most people to eat gluten without any problems, I think.

This site is Karen DeFelice's website. Her book Enzymes for Autism... also explains about these enzymes.

http://www.enzymestuff.com/basicsproductguidelines.htm

Boy, I sure wouldn't believe that without a whole lot of peer reviewed proof.

With respect ortho. (I'm thinking maybe you are very new to the celiac world... and we've all been there, so this is not criticism of your comment at all... however....) making comments like that without the facts may lead some people to think they can eat gluten safely, when in truth, it is a statement not based on fact. I do realize that you said, "I think" but people who are desperate to avoid a gf diet may hold on to the first part of your sentence and let the rest go.

If they had found a magic pill like that, it would be common knowledge because the marketing would go through the roof and celiacs everywhere would be demanding a large supply of it.

It would also be covered by health insurance.

If it would be a big money maker but is still not being widely used or marketed, then the only reason is because it doesn't really work. One thing we all know is that if pharmaceutical companies can figure out a way to make a buck, then they will.

If you know NOTHING about the product I metioned then how can you have any kind of opinion or response? You seem to know nothing about this product, but are so sure it does not work.

Tell me why this product does NOT work. Can you explain that? You seemed to miss that part.

And no I don't care about this argument that IF it worked EVERYONE would know about it. That is never how it works in our system of health care. IF there was a DRUG that worked EVERYONE would know about that DRUG. But not everyone knows about complimentary options.

Here is what they post about celiac and enzymes. I started to post excerpts, but decided it should be read in its totality...mostly because I don't have time right now to excerpt the appropriate parts...and be sure I have missed something.

But, hopefully, this will clear up a few things~

http://www.enzymestuff.com/conditionceliac.htm

Cara

I seem to have hurt your feelings. So, first things first... I truly apologize! It was not my intent at all.

My intent was only to point out that saying things like the quote below may hurt some newcomers.

What I do know about enzymes is that many of the people here research it several times a year and that if something came out over the last several years, we would probably be one of the first places to be posting about it (along with posting the backup research and charts and even just posting links to many, many people who have had it work for them if there weren't any science studies to pull from).

If you have this type of backup information for this enzyme, please do post it as we would all love to read it. If there were any truth to your statement above (and I'm not saying it's not truthful, I'm saying I haven't seen any backup info. for me - or anyone else - to know that it's truthful), I would, quite honestly, probably be the first person to go out and buy it and then feel indebted and grateful to you for all eternity.

My apologies, once again. I did not mean to offend you in any way.