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Medical Research Study to Test a Potential Celiac Disease Therapy Is Underway and Signing up Participants

There is no cure for celiac disease. But, there may soon be a new therapy to go along with a gluten-free diet.

A Phase II medical research study to test a potential therapy for people with celiac disease is underway and signing up participants at .

Alessio Fasano, MD. Co-founder of Alba Therapeutics

The investigational drug, Larazotide Acetate, was developed by Alba Therapeutics. It passed Phase I trials and is now being studied to determine how effective it is in different doses and whether side effects develop. Alba Therapeutics was co-founded by celiac disease researcher, Dr. Alessio Fasano, director of the Celiac Disease Center at the University of Maryland.1

The therapy is based on Dr. Fasano’s discovery that tight junctions between cells in the intestine can be opened or closed and that gluten relaxes these junctions. It is this process that leads to gluten improperly crossing into the body, thereby eliciting an immune reaction that leads to inflammation and damage characteristic of celiac disease.

“The reality is that the paracellular space is a gate, not a wall or fence. And if material gets through that space – even if it is only 1 to 5% of what normally travels through the cell – it could be associated with disease.”
-Alessio Fasano, MD1

Dr. Fasano discovered the potentially therapeutic utility of down-regulating intestinal permeability of celiac disease.1 In other words, he discovered that

Seashore Celiac Support Group Announces 11th Annual Gluten Free Picnic June 24th

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

Seashore Celiacs Annual Picnic
Photo Courtesy Linda Pickett

Seashore Celiac Support Group CSA #96 is pleased to announce its 11th annual 100% Gluten Free Picnic in conjunction with Central Jersey Celiac/DH Support Group and Cel-Kids Network CSA#58.

Now bigger and better than ever!!

When: Sunday June 24, 2012 (Rain or Shine), 1 to 5 pm

Where: SharkRiverPark–Neptune,NJ

Directions: http://seashoreceliacs.org/SharkRiver.htm

All family & friends of celiacs welcome!

Please RSVP by June 18 with the gluten–free dish you’ll

Smart Balance Acquires Udi’s Healthy Foods for $125 Million Increases Stake in Gluten Free Market

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

Smart Balance Gluten FreeThe gluten-free food industry is exploding due to increased diagnosis of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people, while gluten sensitivity is believed to affect up to 10% of the population. The gluten-free market is one of the fastest growing industries, with 20%+ growth per year with US sales increasing from under $1 billion in 2006 to over $2.5 billion in 2011. With the potential market so large, more and more major corporations are getting into the act.

Smart Balance recently acquired Udi’s Healthy Foods, the industry leader in the gluten-free breads and baked goods category, for $125 million.  This follows Smart Balance’s 2011 acquisition of Glutino Foods, which was at the top of the gluten-free snack industry when purchased. With this recent buy, Smart Balance is fast becoming

Alaska Passes Celiac Awareness Month Resolution

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

It is wonderful to see individual states supporting celiac disease awareness. This April, Alaska became the latest to pass a resolution recognizing May as Celiac Awareness Month. Governor Sean Parnell and Senator Cathy Giessel are applauded for their efforts to advance celiac disease awareness. 

alaska celiac awareness month
Gov. Parnell & Sen. Giessel with the Celiac Awareness Month Resolution

(Juneau) – A resolution to proclaim May 2012 as Celiac Disease Awareness Month, SCR 16, was signed by the governor, Sean Parnell, today.

Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, an advanced nurse practitioner, sponsored SCR 16 after being approached by a constituent of hers, Brandy Wendler, also a nurse practitioner, who was diagnosed 4 years ago. Together, they wanted to bring greater public awareness to a disease that is much more common than many realize, and often goes undiagnosed. Mrs. Wendler reported, “Statistics tell us that 1 in 133 people have Celiac Disease, which is three million Americans, yet 97% of them do not know it.” May is also

Bard’s Beer Countdown to Summer Super T-Shirt Giveaway on Facebook

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

 

Bards Beer T-shirt Giveaway
Enter to Win a T-shirt on Bard's Facebook Page!

June 20th is the official start of Summer! And what better way to celebrate than with a cool new t-shirt from one of the hottest gluten-free beer makers?

Bard’s Beer is counting down the days to summer by giving away a Bard’s Beer t-shirt to a random winner every day from June 1 to June 20.

It’s easy to enter. Just visit Bard’s Beer’s Facebook page and click the Giveaway Image or click this direct link to go straight to the giveaway.

Medifast Gluten-free Weight Loss Diet Meal Program Discounts May 2012

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

Save up to $66 on Medifast gluten-free diet meal packages through May 31st.

Gluten-Free 4-Week Package
Medifast Gluten-Free 4 Week Package. Click image to see more.

Medifast has developed two gluten-free packages for people on the gluten-free diet who want to lose weight quickly and safely. The gluten-free packages come in a 4 week package and a 2 week package.

Discount codes are good until May 31st, 2012.

MAY31J – Save $66 when you spend $250 and sign up for the Advantage program!

Medifast – Free Shipping with $150 initial order and Advantage program signup! Use Coupon Code: SHIPMAY12 good until 5-31-12

What is Medifast?

The Medifast 5 & 1 Plan was developed by a medical doctor in 1980.

Medifast Meals are individually portioned, calorie- and carbohydrate-controlled, low-fat meal replacements.

Every Medifast Meal is based on a similar nutritional “footprint” that provides a proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. Medifast Meals are fortified with 

Domino’s Pizza, Celiac Disease Experts and Defining What Is REALLY Gluten-Free

what is gluten free
Is Food That Contains Gluten Really Gluten-Free?

Domino’s Pizza recently announced it would offer gluten-free pizza for gluten sensitive customers. Domino’s made it clear that the pizzas used a gluten-free crust, but are manufactured using the same equipment as the other gluten-containing foods and are not safe for people with celiac disease.

Domino’s worked with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and received the NFCA’s new, and now suspended, “Amber Designation.” This designation was to tell people that although the ingredients are gluten-free, the product cannot claim that cross contamination does not occur. The “Amber Designation” differed from the NFCA’s existing “Green Designation,” which tells the customer that the product is tested to less than 10 parts per million of gluten. “Amber” was basically a caution sign.

What Did Gluten-Free Watchdog Organizations Say?

  • The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) and other organizations called for a recall of the NFCA’s “Amber Designation.”
  • The North American Society for the Study of Celiac Disease commented on Domino’s Pizza ‘Gluten-Free’ Crust Announcement as follows,

Frito-Lay Plans To Validate And Label Products Gluten-Free

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

Frito Lay Fritos
Will Fritos Soon Be Certified Gluten-Free?!?!

PLANO, Texas, May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division today announced a multi-year initiative to validate many of their products as gluten free, with package labeling to follow. Since many of the company’s snacks, such as Lay’s Classic potato chips and Fritos Original corn chips are made from simple ingredients like corn or potatoes, they are, and always have been, naturally made without gluten ingredients.

Frito-Lay is not removing gluten from products, rather, has developed a gluten free validation process with input from the Food Allergy Research and Resource Program (FARRP) and the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) for testing ingredients and finished products to ensure they contain less than

Domino’s Pizza Offers Gluten-Free Pizza…Sort Of

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

Editor’s Note: While Domino’s Pizza’s new offering is made from certified gluten-free crusts, manufacturing processes cannot allow the company to guarantee that cross contamination does not occur. Glutenfreeworks.com does not recommend consuming gluten to people with any type of gluten sensitivity, whether or not they are diagnosed celiac disease.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 7, 2012 — Domino’s Pizza is responding to the needs of choice consumers, today launching a Gluten Free Crust available in all of its nearly 5,000 U.S. stores and becoming the first national pizza delivery chain to offer such a product.

Domino’s Pizza (NYSE:DPZ) consulted with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) to ensure its products and team member training meet the standards of the foundation’s GREAT Kitchens Amber Designation. NFCA’s GREAT Kitchens is an official credentialing program that has expanded to include restaurants offering