In an abstract written by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) Nutrition and Food Research, researchers assert that Candida albicans (a type of yeast), can trigger the onset of Coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the small intestine that causes an inflammatory reaction in the small bowel tissue. It can lead to a variety of symptoms including chronic diarrhea and fatigue. The known cause of Coeliac is sensitivity to the ingestion of gluten proteins found in wheat, barely and rye.

The TNO researchers state that Candida albicans use Hyphal wall protein 1 (HWP1) to adhere to the intestinal epithelium. They also assert that tissue transglutaminase and endomysium could become linked with Candida albicans. This reaction to Candida albicans may stimulate an immune response against HWP1 and gluten, and formation of autoreactive antibodies against tissue transglutaminase and endomysium.

View the full abstract [PDF]

Authors: Nieuwenhuizen WF, Pieters RH, Knippels LM, Jansen MC, Koppelman SJ. Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) Nutrition and Food Research, PO Box 360, 3700 AJ, Zeist, Netherlands.nieuwenhuizen@voeding.tno.nl

PMID: 12826451 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

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