Re: New Book on Celiac and Gluten Mentions Enzymes and Peptidase Study

[Guest guest]

I've been on this list for a while but don't generally post here. I wanted

to share this item with you, a new book called " Celiac Disease: The Hidden

Epidemic " by Dr. H.R. Green because it may be of interest and helpful to

this group. More and more connections are being made with enzymes, autism,

celiac, migraines, G.E.R.D., a long list of autoimmune diseases, and so many

other health problems.

My son, , was diagnosed with Sensory Integration issues at a very

early age. He is now six. We have been following the D.A.N. (Defeat Autism

Now) protocol plus Houston Nutraceuticals' digestive enzymes for over a year

now with good results. With our D.A.N. doctor, we are currently experimenting

with decreasing our dosages of most of the D.A.N. supplements and are down to

two enzymes per meal while we continue adhering to a gluten free diet and

have added back organic milk and milk products successfully. appears

to be doing very well now in kindergarten, where last year, he was

struggling with preschool while still having gluten in his diet and inconsistent

enzymes when with his father (going through divorce with uncooperative Dad). A

Pediatric Gastroenterologist found a significant wheat allergy and the Celiac

gene in May of this year because ' reactions to gluten became severe

with each of Dad's infractions. All of the MDs have demanded that Dad stop

the gluten. As soon as Dad began stopping the gluten, improved. The

therapist and I have recently put a hold on ' physical therapy and

we are re-assessing his occupational therapy skills and goals with a new

evaluation. and I are extremely hopeful that his improvements will

remain.

We have had some pretty significant problems with dietary infractions when

did not get his enzymes, so I was extremely interested in the

findings on the oral peptidases as they can really save the day for

when we

can use them in time, and if it's in the JAMA, Dad and his MD guy friend may

listen and actually use enzymes for . They really do work well for

him when he is allowed to use them.

This Celiac book mentions enzymes and a current medical study of oral

peptidases.

This is my review of this book, FYI: Four Stars of Five

Dr. Green's resume shows that he is the foremost expert on this subject that

I've read to date. This book at least comments on and often answers many

questions that have risen in the quest to learn about topics such as celiac

disease, wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, and the subtleties of differences

in

diagnoses and interpretations among the medical community and others.

Dr. Green highly recommends the gluten free diet and spends a significant

amount of time on management with this diet. However, one of the main problems

with gluten is that it is ubiquitous (AKA omnipresent, universal, pervasive,

global, abundant, permeating) and often not shown as an ingredient in

products where it resides. I do not believe that Dr. Green has adequately

addressed

this part of the problem or significantly discussed that alternative

solutions already exist.

In Chapter 27, on page 270, Dr. Green has three paragraphs about Oral

Peptidases and mentions that studies are underway at Stanford University using

a

recombinant bacterial peptidase...capable of digesting...gliadin. In conclusion

of that same chapter, Dr. Green states that most of the therapies described

in the chapter are still theoretical...except the...oral peptidases trial

already in progress. Three paragraphs in a 280 page book is not significant

mention.

Just last month, the Journal of the American Medical Association published

an article entitled " Enzymes Might Cut Celiac Symptoms " , July 26, 2006, Kuehn

296 (4): 382

Hope does appear to be present and in the process of being proven.

I have been using digestive enzymes for over a year (Peptizyde is the brand

we've bought from Houston Nutraceuticals) to help contain and manage my son's

encounters with casein and wheat/gluten while we have been handed varying

diagnoses of his health. He has the celiac gene which one MD says is not

currently active while another MD states that continued ingestion of gluten can

and

will likely cause celiac in his body while his primary pediatrician had

dismissed all of his symptoms as a virus throughout weeks of vomiting and

diarrhea. Meanwhile, my son has improved when given his enzymes regularly and

with

careful dietary and health considerations.

It is very helpful to have this book from Dr. Green to educate us on the

facts and myths of this disease and to share the experiences of others in

dealing with families and other " helpful " people who don't think a little wheat

will hurt anyone. I would like to have been told a bit more from his

perspective

about digestive enzymes and his personal take on the subject, since we know

he's aware of the studies.

I look forward to publication of the results of the Stanford tests and

conclusions by Dr. Green and others of the effectiveness of enzyme therapies

for

this and other health issues.

I applaud Dr. Green for this book and his very extensive coverage of the

disease topic and all its intricacies. Four stars because there does seem to be

a true solution on the horizon of which Dr. Green is aware but did not

discuss enough to be truly helpful.

Joni Caldwell