Researchers are now looking at how leaky gut can affect the severity of celiac – and whether the leaky gut itself can be treated with drugs to help control the condition.
Leaky gut is an area where conventional western medicine and alternative medicine are starting to overlap. While such a diagnosis would have been considered “hocus pocus” even a few short years ago, now Alba Therapeutics is carrying out a serious investigation of whether a medicinal compound, larazotide acetate (AT-1001), is able to help “close up” the leaky gut, and prevent it from passing more gluten into the body from the digestive tract.
Celiac disease may also be known as celiac sprue. If you have celiac disease and eat foods containing gluten, your immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley – although oats are often avoided too, due to the high rate of gluten contamination. A gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for celiac disease, although patients must be aware of other non-food gluten exposure, including medicines, vitamins and even the glue on stamps and envelopes.
Celiac sprue is not a just a disease of the digestive system. Symptoms may also occur in other parts of the body. One person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person could experience irritability or depression. Irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children. You can even have celiac disease and be completely asymptomatic.
To qualify for this Phase IIb trial, you need to meet the following criteria:
- You should be 18 to 75 years, inclusive
- If you are female, you should be post-menopausal, surgically sterile or have a negative serum beta hCG pregnancy test
- You must have been diagnosed with celiac disease by duodenal/jejunal biopsy or by capsule endoscopy plus positive anti-tTG
- You also must be willing to comply with a gluten-free diet for the duration of the study
Research subjects are being recruited in the US, Canada and Spain.
For more information, please go to the US Government Clinical Trials site.
Source: Alba Therapeutics with reporting from Be Allergy Wise
