A low-gluten diet induces changes in the intestinal
microbiome of healthy Danish adults
Hansen, Lea B. S.; Roager, Henrik M.; Søndertoft, Nadja B.; Gøbel, Rikke J.; Kristensen, Mette; Vallès-Colomer, Mireia; Vieira-Silva, Sara; Ibrügger, Sabine; Lind, Mads V.; Mærkedahl, Rasmus B.; Bahl, Martin I.; Madsen, Mia L.; Havelund, Jesper; Falony, Gwen; Tetens, Inge; Nielsen, Trine; Allin, Kristine H.; Frandsen, Henrik L.; Hartmann, Bolette; Holst, Jens Juul; Sparholt, Morten H.; Holck, Jesper; Blennow, Andreas; Moll, Janne Marie; Meyer, Anne S.; Hoppe, Camilla; Poulsen, Jørgen H.; Carvalho, Vera; Sagnelli, Domenico; Dalgaard, Marlene D.; Christensen, Anders F.; Lydolph, Magnus Christian; Ross, Alastair B.; Villas-Bôas, Silas; Brix, Susanne; Sicheritz-Pontén, Thomas; Buschard, Karsten; Linneberg, Allan; Rumessen, Jüri J.; Ekstrøm, Claus T.; Ritz, Christian; Kristiansen, Karsten; Nielsen, H. Bjørn; Vestergaard, Henrik; Færgeman, Nils J.; Raes, Jeroen; Frøkiær, Hanne; Hansen, Torben; Lauritzen, Lotte; Gupta, Ramneek; Licht, Tine Rask; Pedersen, Oluf
Abstract
Adherence 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.
Nature Communication (2018) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07019-x