A low-gluten diet induces changes in the intestinal microbiome of healthy Danish adults

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07019-x
• Publication Date: 2018-10-31T10:28:54Z
• Authors: Lea B. S. Hansen; Henrik M. Roager; Nadja B. Søndertoft; Rikke J. Gøbel; Mette Kristensen; Mireia Vallès-Col...; Sara Vieira-Silva; Sabine Ibrügger; Mads V. Lind; Rasmus B. Mærkedahl; Martin I. Bahl; Mia L. Madsen; Jesper Havelund; Gwen Falony; Inge Tetens; Trine Nielsen; Kristine H. Allin; Henrik L. Frandsen; Bolette Hartmann; Jens Juul Holst; Morten H. Sparholt; Jesper Holck; Andreas Blennow; Janne Marie Moll; Anne S. Meyer; Camilla Hoppe; Jørgen H. Poulsen; Vera Carvalho; Domenico Sagnelli; Marlene D. Dalgaard; Anders F. Christe...; Magnus Christian ...; Alastair B. Ross; Silas Villas-Bôas; Susanne Brix; Thomas Sicheritz-...; Karsten Buschard; Allan Linneberg; Jüri J. Rumessen; Claus T. Ekstrøm; Christian Ritz; Karsten Kristiansen; H. Bjørn Nielsen; Henrik Vestergaard; Nils J. Færgeman; Jeroen Raes; Hanne Frøkiær; Torben Hansen; Lotte Lauritzen; Ramneek Gupta; Tine Rask Licht; Oluf Pedersen
• Keywords: Adult; DNA, Bacterial; Male; Glutens; Science; Denmark; 590; Article; Body Mass Index; Feces; 03 medical and health sciences; Faculty of Science; Humans; Metabolomics; /dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/TheFacultyOfScience; Aged; 2. Zero hunger; Dietary fibres; 0303 health sciences; Cross-Over Studies; Q; Fasting; Low-gluten diet; Intestinal microbiome; Diet; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Intestines; Creatinine; Fermentation; Cytokines; Female; Hydrogen

AbstractAdherence to a low-gluten diet has become increasingly common in parts of the general population. However, the effects of reducing gluten-rich food items including wheat, barley and rye cereals in healthy adults are unclear. Here, we undertook a randomised, controlled, cross-over trial involving 60 middle-aged Danish adults without known disorders with two 8-week interventions comparing a low-gluten diet (2 g gluten per day) and a high-gluten diet (18 g gluten per day), separated by a washout period of at least six weeks with habitual diet (12 g gluten per day). We find that, in comparison with a high-gluten diet, a low-gluten diet induces moderate changes in the intestinal microbiome, reduces fasting and postprandial hydrogen exhalation, and leads to improvements in self-reported bloating. These observations suggest that most of the effects of a low-gluten diet in non-coeliac adults may be driven by qualitative changes in dietary fibres.