Twin study shows gluten allergy mostly in genes

[Guest guest]

Twin study shows gluten allergy mostly in genes

NEW YORK, Apr 12 (Reuters Health) - People who are allergic to gluten, a

protein found in wheat, barley and rye, have probably inherited the

disorder from their parents, Italian researchers report.

This gluten allergy, known as celiac disease, is thought to be inherited

to some extent, but the current study is the largest to date to look at

identical and non-identical twins, according to the investigators.

By comparing identical twins, who are genetically the same, to

non-identical twins, who share only the same number of genes as most

other siblings, researchers can help determine how much of an ailment is

genetic and how much is due to a shared environment.

In the new study, the investigators found that environmental factors

have little or no effect on the digestive disorder, which can cause

diarrhea, weight loss, stomach bloating and damage to the small

intestine.

" This study provides substantial evidence for a very strong genetic

component in celiac disease, " according to Professor L. Greco from the

University of Naples, Italy, and colleagues. They suggest that several

genes work collectively to cause the disorder. A single missing or

altered gene is probably not to blame, the authors note.

The findings are based on blood samples drawn from 47 identical and

non-identical twin pairs, where at least one twin had been diagnosed

with celiac disease. Individuals were tested for antibodies that are

specific to the disease.

According to the results published in the April issue of Gut, in 38% of

the twin pairs both had signs of celiac disease--75% of identical twins

and 11% of non-identical twins.

In other findings, females who had an affected twin were 30% more likely

than an unaffected male twin to go on to develop the disease themselves.

A shared environment did not affect the risk of developing the disease,

the study found.

Although some genetic variations are known to increase the risk of the

disease, much searching has not located a gene " that exerts a major

affect, " the researchers report.

It is more likely that " a series of genetic characteristics which

individually exert little effect but which collectively characterize a

large gluten intolerant tribe that is spread throughout the

gluten-consuming world, " Greco and colleagues conclude.

SOURCE: Gut 2002;50:624-628.

[Guest guest]

- very interesting. I am an identical

twin...actually a mirror twin...the right handed part

LOL. Sharon does not have RA...but has asthma.

Hope all is well. Happy belated birthday!

> Twin study shows gluten allergy mostly in genes

>

> NEW YORK, Apr 12 (Reuters Health) - People who are allergic to gluten, a

> protein found in wheat, barley and rye, have probably inherited the

> disorder from their parents, Italian researchers report.

>

> This gluten allergy, known as celiac disease, is thought to be inherited

> to some extent, but the current study is the largest to date to look at

> identical and non-identical twins, according to the investigators.

>

> By comparing identical twins, who are genetically the same, to

> non-identical twins, who share only the same number of genes as most

> other siblings, researchers can help determine how much of an ailment is

> genetic and how much is due to a shared environment.

>

> In the new study, the investigators found that environmental factors

> have little or no effect on the digestive disorder, which can cause

> diarrhea, weight loss, stomach bloating and damage to the small

> intestine.

>

> " This study provides substantial evidence for a very strong genetic

> component in celiac disease, " according to Professor L. Greco from the

> University of Naples, Italy, and colleagues. They suggest that several

> genes work collectively to cause the disorder. A single missing or

> altered gene is probably not to blame, the authors note.

>

> The findings are based on blood samples drawn from 47 identical and

> non-identical twin pairs, where at least one twin had been diagnosed

> with celiac disease. Individuals were tested for antibodies that are

> specific to the disease.

>

> According to the results published in the April issue of Gut, in 38% of

> the twin pairs both had signs of celiac disease--75% of identical twins

> and 11% of non-identical twins.

>

> In other findings, females who had an affected twin were 30% more likely

> than an unaffected male twin to go on to develop the disease themselves.

>

> A shared environment did not affect the risk of developing the disease,

> the study found.

>

> Although some genetic variations are known to increase the risk of the

> disease, much searching has not located a gene " that exerts a major

> affect, " the researchers report.

>

> It is more likely that " a series of genetic characteristics which

> individually exert little effect but which collectively characterize a

> large gluten intolerant tribe that is spread throughout the

> gluten-consuming world, " Greco and colleagues conclude.

>

> SOURCE: Gut 2002;50:624-628.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello, !

Indeed I think of you and Sharon every time I read a twin study. I

believe you are the only twin in the group who has confessed to being

one. In my relatively small class in grade school we has two sets of

twins and one set of triplets, but they were all fraternal.

Amazingly, it was in the era before fertility drugs were so common,

but, then again, I went to a Catholic school - huge families.

I hope you are well. It's been so long since you've written. Let me

and the rest of us know how you are doing if you feel like it and

when you can.

The other two s who recently joined also prompted me to think of

you.

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes!

> - very interesting. I am an identical

> twin...actually a mirror twin...the right handed part

> LOL. Sharon does not have RA...but has asthma.

>

> Hope all is well. Happy belated birthday!

>

>

> > Twin study shows gluten allergy mostly in genes

> >

> > NEW YORK, Apr 12 (Reuters Health) - People who are allergic to

gluten, a

> > protein found in wheat, barley and rye, have probably inherited

the

> > disorder from their parents, Italian researchers report.

> >

> > This gluten allergy, known as celiac disease, is thought to be

inherited

> > to some extent, but the current study is the largest to date to

look at

> > identical and non-identical twins, according to the investigators.

> >

> > By comparing identical twins, who are genetically the same, to

> > non-identical twins, who share only the same number of genes as

most

> > other siblings, researchers can help determine how much of an

ailment is

> > genetic and how much is due to a shared environment.

> >

> > In the new study, the investigators found that environmental

factors

> > have little or no effect on the digestive disorder, which can

cause

> > diarrhea, weight loss, stomach bloating and damage to the small

> > intestine.

> >

> > " This study provides substantial evidence for a very strong

genetic

> > component in celiac disease, " according to Professor L. Greco

from the

> > University of Naples, Italy, and colleagues. They suggest that

several

> > genes work collectively to cause the disorder. A single missing or

> > altered gene is probably not to blame, the authors note.

> >

> > The findings are based on blood samples drawn from 47 identical

and

> > non-identical twin pairs, where at least one twin had been

diagnosed

> > with celiac disease. Individuals were tested for antibodies that

are

> > specific to the disease.

> >

> > According to the results published in the April issue of Gut, in

38% of

> > the twin pairs both had signs of celiac disease--75% of identical

twins

> > and 11% of non-identical twins.

> >

> > In other findings, females who had an affected twin were 30% more

likely

> > than an unaffected male twin to go on to develop the disease

themselves.

> >

> > A shared environment did not affect the risk of developing the

disease,

> > the study found.

> >

> > Although some genetic variations are known to increase the risk

of the

> > disease, much searching has not located a gene " that exerts a

major

> > affect, " the researchers report.

> >

> > It is more likely that " a series of genetic characteristics which

> > individually exert little effect but which collectively

characterize a

> > large gluten intolerant tribe that is spread throughout the

> > gluten-consuming world, " Greco and colleagues conclude.

> >

> > SOURCE: Gut 2002;50:624-628.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >