New Study: High Fibre, Low Gluten Diet

The changes in intestinal comfort and body weight relate to changes in gut bacteria composition and function, researchers say. An increasing number of people choose a low-gluten diet, even though they’re not allergic to it. The trend has sparked public debate about whether or not low-gluten diets are recommended for people without allergies. Now, researchers have looked into it.

“We demonstrate that, in comparison with a high-gluten diet, a low-gluten, fiber-rich diet induces changes in the structure and function of the complex intestinal ecosystem of bacteria, reduces hydrogen exhalation, and leads to improvements in self-reported bloating."

“Moreover, we observed a modest weight loss, likely due to increased body combustion triggered by the altered gut bacterial functions,” explains Oluf Pedersen, a professor in the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen, and the trial’s leading principal investigator.

SUMMARY:

Eating a low-gluten, high-fiber diet changes bacteria in the gut, decreases gastrointestinal discomfort such as bloating, and is linked to modest weight loss, according to new research.