A new study presented at Digestive and Disease Week (DDW) in Washington DC shows that of the 22 top-selling probiotic products on the market, 12 of them contain gluten. This raises concerns for people who have celiac disease, as they often take probiotics to improve their digestive health. While most of the tested products only contained trace amounts of gluten, it's not clear if trace amounts can worsen celiac disease symptoms. Four of the tested products contained more than trace amounts.
For more information about probiotics and commercial products containing these ingredients, review our complete monographs on Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Saccharomyces boulardii.
Nazareth S, Lebwohl B, Voyksner JS, et al. Widespread Contamination of Probiotics With Gluten, Detected by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Gastroenterology. 2015 April;148(4):S-28
The information in this brief report is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions. Copyright © 2024 NatMed. Commercial distribution or reproduction prohibited. NatMed is the leading provider of high-quality, evidence-based, clinically-relevant information on natural medicine, dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, minerals, functional foods, diets, complementary practices, CAM modalities, exercises and medical conditions. Monograph sections include interactions with herbs, drugs, foods and labs, contraindications, depletions, dosing, toxicology, adverse effects, pregnancy and lactation data, synonyms, safety and effectiveness.
