Low-gluten diet benefits may be due to low fiber

Healthy adults had less bloating, increased well-being, and a small but significant weight loss on low-gluten compared with high-gluten diets, a study published in Nature Communications found. However, the study found those benefits may be linked to the diet’s dietary fiber rather than lack of gluten. “Gluten-free may not necessarily be the healthy choice many

Weight loss after bariatric surgery increases risk of gallstones

Bariatric surgery that brings about rapid weight loss also raises the risk of hospital admissions for pancreatitis, gallstones and other gallbladder conditions by 10 to 100 times, researchers reported at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting. The researchers said physicians may want to prescribe bile acid sequestrants to patients to reduce the risk of gallstones and

No microscopic colitis risk with gluten

An association between celiac disease and microscopic colitis has long been recognized. A study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology explored the possibility of non-celiac sensitivity to gluten. The results suggested eating a diet that contains gluten did not increase the risk for microscopic colitis in women who do not already have celiac disease. See

Celiac disease tied to functional dyspepsia

Celiac disease patients experience higher rates of functional dyspepsia, according to a study in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Researchers also found an association between self-diagnosed wheat sensitivity (with no history of celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or colorectal cancer) and irritable bowel syndrome. See the article on Clinical Advisor here.

Young, obese African-Americans have more severe NAFLD

Obese African-American youths had more severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but overall NAFLD was more common among obese white or Hispanic youth, according to a study in Hepatology. Earlier studies have shown Hispanic adults and children had the highest rates of NAFLD, while African-Americans have a lower likelihood of developing hepatic fat accumulation. See the

Fecal Profiling May Predict Response in IBS

Researchers conclude that fecal profiling of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) may provide a low cost, non-invasive tool to predict the responses of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients to probiotics and diets low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP’s). Modeling baseline fecal VOC’s, and using key features of VOC profiles, correctly predicted response to

Bariatric Surgery and IBD Risk

A study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics showed bariatric surgery increased the odds of developing inflammatory bowel disease for some patients. Researchers said the risk was small and did not outweigh the benefits of weight-loss surgery. A longer length of time from surgery correlated with increased risk. Patients whose surgery had been done more

Highly Processed Foods Tied to Higher Cancer Risk

Every 10 percent dietary increase in packaged snacks, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals and other highly processed foods boosts the risk for cancer by 12 percent, new research suggests.    In several developed countries, ultra-processed foods may make up as much as 50 percent of the daily diet, the researchers noted. This includes convenience foods, such