New research has linked diabetes with an abnormal immune response to wheat.
Dr. Fraser Scott and his team at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the University of Ottawa tested 42 people with Type 1 diabetes and found close to half had an abnormal immune response to wheat proteins. The study was published in the August 2009 issue of the journal Diabetes.
The immune system normally attacks viruses and bacteria, but when this process falters, autoimmune diseases and allergies can develop.
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Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks the pancreas, which regulates blood sugar. Scott’s research shows that immune cells or T cells from people with Type 1 diabetes are also more likely to overreact to wheat.
“The immune system has to find the perfect balance to defend the body against foreign invaders without hurting itself or overreacting to the environment and this can be particularly challenging in the gut, where there is an abundance of food and bacteria,” said Scott.
“Our research suggests that people with certain genes may be more likely to develop an overreaction to wheat and possibly other foods in the gut and this may tip the balance with the immune system and make the body more likely to develop other immune problems, such as Type 1 diabetes.”
Scott’s previous research indicated a wheat-free diet reduces the risk of developing diabetes in animal models.
More research will be required to confirm the link and possible effects of diet changes in humans. Research is also needed to investigate links with celiac disease, also connected to wheat.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded the research.
An estimated 246 million people have diabetes worldwide. About 10 percent have Type 1 diabetes, the most severe form. Insulin helps control blood sugar levels but there is no cure for the disease.
