I actually tested positive for gluten antibodies in my saliva over a year ago, and so I completely cut all gluten out of my life. I did not see any acne improvement. Recently I had a complete food allergy panel run and it indicated that I do not have an allergic reaction to gluten or any of the glutenous grains. With trepidation, I added oats back into my diet, and then wheat, and have not seen any change in my skin for the better or worse. I honestly don't think that gluten causes acne for me, nor does cutting it out produce amazing changes for me. I have tried cutting out so many foods over the past year with no change in my skin at all that I have all but given up on following any kind of diet except for trying to eat mostly whole organic foods and avoiding the foods my test said I was sensitive to : asparagus, amaranth, bananas, almonds, and dairy. Even cutting these foods out has not produced a change in my skin. Of course, this is just me, but thought I would offer my experience...

There are many forms of hypersensitivity to wheat gluten, some may be allergic to wheat, others gluten intolerant, others may have celiac disease. If you exhibit signs of LGS (Leaky Gut Syndrome) you may have also inadverantly develop another form of gluten intolerance.

Here's the deal, I pretty much had it figured that we shouldn't have antibodies against foods we eat, right? After all they are broken down into micronutrients (amino acids, glucose, vitamins etc) and then the body is able to utilize them...yet these foods macronutrients (protein, fat, etc) shouldn't enter our blood system...unless somehow somewhere there is a "leak." Yet, even healthy people may find that they do have antibodies against foods and if this is the case....they may also have a very mild level intolerance. This is just my opinion, although some others that are probably medical doctors by now, also supported this view at one point.

Take my test for example. BEFORE I changed my diet to gluten free, I was tested and I ended up having 50% of the antibodies neccessary to be deemed a Celiac, so of course my test was negative. Some people may be IgA deficient in which case a certain test (they perform several types) will come up as negative. There's also another test that will yield IgG antibodies but the medical community considers this test to be too sensitive (producing higher numbers than they believe it should for at least celiac's disease) and so its' generally not taken as the sole test either. However, I've read enough Celiac Message boards to know that a blood tests) and perhaps not even the fecal or saliva tests aren't the definitive answer. If you truly want to know if you have celiac disease then an endoscopic exam is the way to go to check for damage.


Furthermore, other cases of interest regarding the acne wheat/gluten debate include:

**People that have various gastrointestinal disorders such as Celiacs, IBS, Crohns, Colitis etc have found that following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet works for them. This one is far more strict than a traditional gluten free diet as it eliminates all grains, starch, sugars, processed foods...but they can still have their cake and eat it too (there are more than just grain flours available)!

** Gluten is actually where the yeast is found and why "bread" is so sticks together so wonderfully and is soft and fluffy. Although gluten is formed from glutenin & gliadin proteins and if you've got cheesecloth and some flour you can actually make your own gluten (it looks like a big sticky greyish piece of chewed up gum). Anyway, the paleo diet, some anti-candida diets, no grain diets, and anti-fungi diets will say that it's because of this fungi or their mycotoxins (byproduct of fungi) found in gluten, along with various other fungi found in grains is why people are sick today. They even said that there's a fungi to CAUSE Diabetes...in lab rats and is probably the same one causing it humans (and cats). There are some studies about this mycotoxin, but I still have't been able to come up with the same conclusion from reading what abstracts are available.

** Gluten may be an insulin mimicker in which case, when consumed our bodies may behave as if insulin has been released and the cascade of hormones, igrowth factors, nflammation etc may ensue. I'm still looking for more evidence of this.

** B & O Blood Types (the most prevelant in the population) are said to be gluten sensitive and that consumption will induce Insulin Resistance and then later on Type II Diabetes. So far...at least 1/3 of our Adult population is Insulin Resistant (must check the most recent numbers) and that doesn't include ALL Teenagers going through Puberty (and possibly Pregnant women) temporarily.

** A Blood Types have also found relief of acne by avoiding Gluten even though it's not required according to the Blood Type Diet.

**Those with ADHD (and some Autsistics) have been helped by Gluten and Casien avoidance. Some of these children were related to Celiacs and some of them were not.

** Type II Diabetics have found success in following a Gluten Free Diet over a Low Carb diet and as such, you may find that Gluten-Free products are sold and/or labeled as being Low Carb.

** Various Journal articles tout that it's healthy to eat Whole Grains over Refined, but they have also shown that the less grains you eat, even more improvement is seen regarding Insulin Resistance, Diabetes, Hormones, Inflammation, etc

** There is only ONE study, back in 1994, that compared Semi-Refined Wheat to Semi-Refined Rice in 30,000 Chinese Women and....rice beat out wheat! Wheat increased Insulin Resistance, Tryglycerides, IGF-1, and Androgen hormones where as rice decreased it. They never mentioned gluten...but suggested it may have to do with the starch content. Rice contains more amylose (slowly metabolized, found in 20% of plant foods) where as certain varieties of wheat contain more amylopectin (quickly metabolized) starch.


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That's all I've got


P.S. My ethnic background and family history puts me more at risk. My father's side of the family has Type II Diabetes (2 died from it) or have borderline Diabetes. My Dad is Blood Type B, I'm Blood Type O, and I was also born Premature. I've been Insulin Resistant since the day I was born, infact even before I left my mother's womb! Always wondered if there may be a connection to prematurity and acne or at least health/hormonal problems...well if you are born premature or of low birth weight...the studies say you are automatically Insulin Resistant. So those of you born premature or with certain health problems in your family may want to to test out gluten avoidance.