News

(Editor’s Note: This study is closed.)

I just learned of a new study being conducted by The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts to better understand the attitudes and beliefs of family members of persons with celiac disease.

Just last week BioLineRx, a biopharmaceutical development company announced successful pre-clinical testing of a potentially revolutionary treatment for celiac disease.  This new treatment may help celiac disease patients reduce their gluten toxins to create an overall healthy body for all celiac disease patients.

Jerusalem, Israel – February 21, 2012 – BioLineRx (NASDAQ: BLRX; TASE: BLRX), a biopharmaceutical development company, announced the publication of pre-clinical results demonstrating that BL-7010, an orally available treatment for celiac disease, reduces gluten toxicity (the negative effect of gluten on the patient’s body). The research was published in the February edition of Gastroenterology.

The findings indicate that BL-7010 (previously called P(HEMA-co-SS)) reduces digestion of wheat gluten, thereby decreasing its Read More »

The FDA opened a 90 day comment period on gluten in medications. One of the things we learned from 1 in 133 is that when we make it clear how many people care about gluten labeling, movement happens.  Let’s give the message that we feel this is important!

Gluten in Medications:

We know that most packaged foods on the grocery shelf in the U.S. will have straight-forward labeling, at least for ingredients containing wheat. However, this is not the case for medications, and finding accurate and timely information is much more challenging.

Standard prescription labels include only the active ingredients. So if your Read More »

On December 13, I posted a question on the Glutenfreeworks Facebook page to ask people who had adopted a gluten-free diet if they no longer needed medications they had been taking. The response was incredible. Dozens of people described how they no longer needed drugs, some of which they had been taking for years or decades.

Here is my post and their responses…

“I gave a presentation to a group and mentioned a friend who had been on Zantac for 20 years. I went on to say that once she went gluten-free the acid reflux disappeared. A woman in the audience stood up and said the same thing happened to her – she had been on it since she was 10 (I’m guessing she was in her mid to late 30s.).

My question for you is what medication (of any kind) were you on, before you went gluten-free, that you no longer need to take and how long did it take before you did not need it anymore?”

For the 24th year in a row, Nationwide Children’s Hospital will be hosting  the Celiac Conference. The conference is a great place to  mingle, shop and learn more about Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet.   The conference will take place on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 7:30 AM  until 4:00 PM.  There will be separate educational tracks for adults, teens & school-age children.

The Keynote Speakers Will Be:

• Dr. Michelle Pietzak
• Chef Michael Rice

The Agenda:  Read More »

On August 3, Smart Balance, Inc. announced it purchased Glutino Food Group for $66.3 million cash.  With this purchase, Smart Balance picks up arguably the #1 most recognized gluten-free brand in the United States.

PARAMUS, N.J., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Smart Balance, Inc. (NasdaqGM: SMBL) announced it acquired 100% of the equity interest of Importations DE-RO-MA, which owns Glutino Food Group (“Glutino”), for $66.3 million, from Claridge, aMontreal-based investment firm.  Based in Laval, Quebec, Glutino is a leading manufacturer and marketer of innovative, premium-priced, gluten-free foods sold under the Glutino and Gluten Free Pantry brands.  Glutino offers a wide range of shelf-stable and frozen gluten-free products, including snack foods, frozen baked goods, frozen entrees and baking mixes throughout North America and on its website www.glutenfree.com.  Glutino had annual sales of $53.9 million during its fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.

Commenting on the announcement, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Hughes stated,

Read More »

Finally it seems that athletes have become savvy to the benefits of a gluten free diet.  As the general population has started to become more aware of the prevalence of gluten sensitivities and Celiac Disease, there has been a noted increase in the number of athletes turning to the gluten free lifestyle in an attempt to maximize their training and find greater success in their respective sports.

Among the most notable athletes making the gluten free switch are Raul Ibanez of the Philadelphia Phillies, Cedric Benson of the Cincinnati Bengals, and tennis player Novak Djokovic, the 2011 winner of Wimbledon who went on an unprecedented 43-match win streak.  Most significant about their decision to go gluten free is the marked improvement in all three athletes after the switch. Read More »

Could it possibly be?  At long last, there’s some movement on the behalf of the gluten-free labeling movement.

This is REALLY big news for people who are gluten-free in the U.S.!  The FDA has re-opened a comment period for 60 days to solicit opinions from health professionals, scientists and the public on a potential ruling for defining gluten-free as less than 20 ppm.

Why 20ppm? According Michael Taylor at the FDA at stakeholder teleconference on Aug 2nd, it’s the lowest amount that can be accurately quantified, and many leading experts believe it is a safe amount. Europe has used it for 20 + years.  Several prominent researchers, including Dr. Alesso Fasano and Dr.Stefano Guandalini, spoke in favor of the new proposed legislation. “This is a standard that has been in use in Read More »

Brandy Wendler, the new Mrs. Alaska, has celiac disease.

April 8, 2011, Anchorage, Alaska: Brandy Wendler, wife of JohnRoss Wendler, pilot officer of Elmendorf Air Force Base who is serving in Japan’s relief effort, was crowned Mrs. Alaska United States 2011 in front of a packed auditorium at the Wilda Marston Theatre in Anchorage on Saturday, April 2^nd, 2011.  

Although the Mrs. Alaska pageant was Mrs. Wendler’s first time competing in a pageant, her passion for speaking about Celiac disease, a disease Mrs. Wendler was diagnosed with 3 years ago, stole the hearts of the judges and the entire audience. 

Mrs. Alaska United States is a prestigious and elite title, which requires each contestant to choose a Read More »