Enzyme therapy for management of coeliac disease

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Enzyme therapy based on animal digestive extracts was investigated as a means of completely digesting toxic residues from gluten in the small intestine, thus providing a means of protection of the mucosa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of an encapsulated enzyme extract was conducted in 21 coeliac patients in remission who were challenged with a modest amount of gluten daily over 2 weeks. Enzyme extract (900 mg) in three divided doses was administered during this challenge to half the group and a placebo to the other half in a double-blind, crossover design. Symptoms were recorded in daily diaries; blood was taken for tissue transglutaminase ..