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The effects of oats on the function of gut microflora in children with coeliac disease
Author(s) -
Tjellström B.,
Stenhammar L.,
Sundqvist T.,
FälthMagnusson K.,
Hollén E.,
Magnusson K.E.,
Norin E.,
Midtvedt T.,
Högberg L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/apt.12707
Subject(s) - medicine , coeliac disease , gluten free , gastroenterology , feces , physiology , disease , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary Background Faecal short chain fatty acids ( SCFA s) are produced by the gut microflora. We have previously reported high faecal SCFA levels in children with coeliac disease ( CD ), indicating alteration in gut microfloral metabolism. Data accumulated over recent decades by us and others suggest that wheat‐free oats can safely be included in a gluten‐free diet ( GFD ). However, concerns have been raised with respect to the safety of oats in a subset of coeliacs. Aim To describe faecal SCFA patterns in children with newly diagnosed CD treated for 1 year with a GFD with or without oats. Methods This report is part of a randomised, double‐blind study on the effect of a GFD containing oats ( GFD ‐oats) vs. a standard GFD ( GFD ‐std). Faecal samples were received from 34 children in the GFD ‐oats group and 37 in the GFD ‐std group at initial diagnosis and/or after 1 year on a GFD . Faecal SCFA s were analysed. Results The GFD ‐std group had a significantly lower total faecal SCFA concentration at 12 months compared with 0 months ( P < 0.05). In contrast, total SCFA in the GFD ‐oats group remained high after 1 year on the GFD . The children in the GFD ‐oats group had significantly higher acetic acid ( P < 0.05), n ‐butyric acid ( P < 0.05) and total SCFA concentration ( P < 0.01) after 1‐year diet treatment compared to the GFD ‐std group. Conclusions Our results indicate that oats do affect the gut microflora function, and that some coeliac children receiving oats may develop gut mucosal inflammation, that may present a risk for future complications.