A RELIEF TO INDIVIDUALS WITH GLUTEN INTOLERANCE

The enzyme that aimed to decrease the gluten intolerance symptoms is approved by EFSA. The company announced that the enzyme launched as the name of Tolerase G was being granted in Europe following into the US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand markets. To reduce the effects of gluten to individuals with gluten intolerance in adults, enzyme claims to break down residual gluten in the stomach. 

SO, WHAT IS THIS GLUTEN and GLUTEN-FREE DIET

Gluten is a protein that is rich in an amino acid called proline and found in grains such as barley, wheat and rye, etc. But the difficulty that some people have in digesting proline causes them to feed gluten-free. According to some experts, it is not quite possible to fit a ‘zero-gluten diet’ and it does not exist, since most of the products include even a small amount of gluten. Even though people aimed to achieve a very low gluten diet, there is still a risk to consume more. This hidden gluten can be consumed unintentionally with some products such as chocolate, soups and processed meat. It is claimed that this unintentionally taken hidden gluten can be broken down in the stomach thanks to this new enzyme. Clinical studies show that 86% of gluten is degraded by altering the gluten protein into small fragments thanks to Tolerase G. It is easier to digest these smaller fragments by the stomach.

In one trial, it was asked to eat porridge containing 0,5 g of gluten, 160,000 PPI of Toleras G which is a high dose, 80,000 PPI of Tolerase G which is a low dose, or a placebo from the individuals who have gluten intolerance. Over 180 minute period, duodenal and gastric content was sampled and gluten epitopes were analyzed. The findings show that the ones who take high or low dose Tolerase G had lower gluten concentration in the stomach and duodenum while comparing the ones who had placebo.

Tolerase G indicates gluten-sensitive consumers to keep feeding as gluten free while consuming the enzyme as an auxiliary product to digest the gluten in the stomach. Briefly, the enzyme should not be considered as a direct treatment or a replacement for gluten-free diets. For the best result, enzyme should be consumed alongside the diet. No matter how much attention is paid, sometimes it becomes inevitable to consume more gluten than desired on an evening away from home. It seems that it will bring great relief that this is no longer a problem.

Şeyma Karabulut 

Chemical Engineer