In a recent study, researchers found that a low-gluten diet may help people reduce bloating and lose weight.
The research was conducted by an international team led by the University of Copenhagen.
More and more people are choosing a low-gluten diet, even though they are not allergic to the dietary substance.
This trend has sparked public debate about whether or not low-gluten diets are recommendable for people without allergies.
But previous research has shown that a low-gluten diet may diminish gut symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and irritable bowel syndrome.
In the study, the team examined 60 middle-aged healthy Danish adults.
These people participated in two eight week interventions comparing a low-gluten diet (2 g gluten per day) and a high-gluten diet (18 g gluten per day).
The two diets were balanced in the number of calories and nutrients including the same amount of dietary fibers. However, the composition of fibers differed markedly between the two diets.
The team found that a low-gluten, high-fiber diet could change the community of gut bacteria.
This could decrease gut discomfort such as bloating and might help with weight loss.
The changes in intestinal comfort and body weight relate to changes in gut bacteria composition and function.
The researchers conclude that the health benefits of low-gluten dieting in healthy people may not be primarily due to reduced intake of gluten itself but rather to a change in dietary fiber.
In the low-gluten diet, there were fewer fibers from wheat and rye and more fibers from vegetables, brown rice, corn, oat, and quinoa.
They suggest that even healthy individuals could use a low-gluten diet to combat intestinal discomfort or excess body weight.
The leading author is Professor Oluf Pedersen at the University of Copenhagen.
The study is published in Nature Communications.
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