Free shipping on all orders over $125*
Synbiotic Blend of 10 Beneficial Strains, Developed by Board-Certified Gastroenterologist

celiac

Gut Health Problems May be a Sign of Type 1 Diabetes

Unlike the type 2 version, type 1 diabetes is an even more serious and virtually incurable form of the disease that prevents your body from making the insulin it needs.

What’s more, type 1 diabetes can harm the body’s major organs over the long haul, affecting the kidneys, blood vessels, nerves, heart and eyes. And, it can even make pregnancy risky for Moms and their babies.

For the longest time, medical science has assumed the origins of type 1 diabetes lie in the pancreas. The results of a recent study have led Italian researchers to look elsewhere, speculating that gut health problems may be a sign of type 1 diabetes.

“Our findings indicate the individuals with Type 1 diabetes have an inflammatory signature and microbiome that differ from what we see in people who do not have diabetes or even in those with other autoimmune conditions such as celiac disease,” says Dr. Lorenzo Piemonti of the Diabetes Research Institute at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy, according to a press release.

The pancreas or the gut?

Researchers compared samples (via biopsies of the small intestine, but not stool samples) taken from the microbiomes of 54 patients, including 19 type 1 diabetics, 16 healthy controls and 19 additional patients with celiac disease, which can damage the small intestine.

(The connection between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease is a sound one, as up to 11 percent of type 1 diabetics may suffer from celiac disease too, says Dr. Piemonti.)

Overall, patients with type 1 diabetes displayed many more signs of inflammation in the gut’s mucous membrane that were tied to 10 specific genes than those seen in healthy controls or even celiac patients, according to the study appearing in JCEM: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Additionally, the balance of gut bacteria in type 1 diabetes patients was distinctly different compared to the other groups.

“We don’t know if Type 1 diabetes’ signature effect on the gut is caused by or the result of the body’s own attacks on the pancreas,” Piemonti says. “By exploring this, we may be able to find new ways to treat the disease by targeting the unique gastrointestinal characteristics of individuals with Type 1 diabetes.”

Could probiotics make a difference?

Is it possible that a probiotic could make a difference one day in treating patients with type 1 diabetes?

Based on the results of a 2015 study appearing in Diabetes, Cornell University researchers had great luck with engineering a strain of Lactobacillus (gasseri) they fed to diabetic rats for 90 days.

Over that time, levels of high blood glucose fell as much as 30 percent in diabetic rates receiving this strain of beneficial probiotic bacteria. Even more promising, this probiotic bacteria reduced glucose levels in diabetic rats in the very same way as healthy animals.

Is it possible taking a probiotic with multiple strains of beneficial bacteria like EndoMune Advanced Probiotic could make a difference too?

These results may be just the start of a new way to look at and treat type 1 diabetes by rebalancing the bacteria that live in our guts.

Gut Health Problems May be a Sign of Type 1 Diabetes Read More »

full lineup of products

IBS may ease struggle to diagnose celiac disease

Diagnosing celiac disease can be a long and frustrating process as doctors and patients struggle to identify the various triggers to this condition that plague the immune system.

A recent Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics (JAMA) study linking celiac disease to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children could ease that process. At the same time, probiotics containing bifidobacterium are promising for treating patients with these dual conditions.

This is good news for celiac sufferers as the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness reports that 83 percent of Americans with celiac disease are either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Many struggle for years with celiac-related health problems before understanding the root causes of their symptoms.

An immune reaction that damages the small intestine when certain people eat gluten — hence the growing interest in gluten-free foods — celiac disease can be difficult to treat because it affects everyone differently. Symptoms range from digestive problems to diarrhea, abdominal pain and even depression.

The study results

Based on blood tests taken by Italian researchers during the six-year study, 12 of 15 children who tested positive for celiac disease also suffered from IBS.

The benefits of this link between IBS and celiac disease are two-fold: Scientists suggest only IBS patients be tested for celiac disease rather than those suffering from functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDS), a cost-saving measure considering “screening tests are common, costs are substantial, and the yield is minimal.”

Another important benefit: Just like IBS sufferers, celiac patients may benefit from taking probiotics containing strains of bifidobacterium, according to a report in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.

The benefits of bifidobacterium

In addition to following a strict gluten-free diet, a 2013 study concluded celiac patients experienced fewer problems with indigestion, constipation and reflux after being treated with bifidobacterium, demonstrating potential for improvement among untreated celiac patients.

Other findings have shown the presence of bifidobacteria in babies may affect the development of celiac disease later in life. For example, breast milk can stimulate the growth of bifidobacterial species in the guts of healthy infants.

Another study was conducted on infants who were related to at least one family member with celiac disease. It concluded that reduced amounts of bifidobacterium were found in patients who experienced an increased risk of developing celiac disease later in their lives.

Bifidobacteria has been used to treat numerous conditions:

  • Atopic eczema in babies
  • Flu-like symptoms in children
  • Hepatitis
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Lyme disease
  • Cancer

More good news: Bifidobacterium is one of the active strains of beneficial bacteria contained in EndoMune Advanced Probiotic and EndoMune Advanced Junior.

In addition to the multiple strains of beneficial bacteria, both EndoMune probiotics contain no dairy products, preservatives and artificial colorings and are gluten-free.

IBS may ease struggle to diagnose celiac disease Read More »

Scroll to Top