Supplements Archives - Gluten Free Society

Are You Getting Enough Molybdenum?

Bobby Chandler — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 21:13:34 +0000

Molybdenum is considered a trace mineral. This means your body only needs small amounts. But just because you don’t need much, it doesn’t mean it’s not important. So let’s take a closer look at the essential functions of molybdenum. We’ll then discuss how gluten can cause a deficiency and symptoms to look out for as well as the best foods to eat to prevent a molybdenum deficiency.

Key Roles of Molybdenum

Molybdenum is a cofactor for several vital enzymes in your body. This means that these enzymes need molybdenum to carry out the biological reactions they’re responsible for. In other words, without molybdenum, these reactions wouldn’t occur.

Xanthine Oxidase

Proteins from your food and within your body must be broken down and rebuilt continuously to keep your cells healthy and functioning properly. And xanthine oxidase (XO) plays a role in this metabolic process. First, certain proteins are broken down into xanthine or hypoxanthine. XO then converts these compounds into uric acid.

Under normal conditions, your body is able to convert uric acid into a harmless substance that’s excreted through your urine. Because a build-up of uric acid isn’t a good thing. For example, it can cause oxidative stress, which can contribute to many serious diseases. It’s also associated with a painful condition known as gout that often affects poorly managed cases of type 2 diabetes.

However, our bodies need some uric acid. In fact, at normal concentrations, uric acid has antioxidant effects. Also, in the absence of XO or molybdenum to activate XO, xanthine builds up. And excess xanthine has been associated with a rare type of kidney stones, which can ultimately lead to renal failure if left untreated. Joint pain and muscle aches are also common complaints. There’s even been a link to lower survival rates with some types of cancer.

XO may also help prevent an excess of hypoxanthine from causing DNA mutations.

Aldehyde Oxidase

Aldehyde oxidase (AO) is mostly concentrated in your liver. And evidence suggests that it plays an important role in the detoxification of medications and potentially harmful environmental contaminants. This includes pesticides, food additives, air pollutants, and more.

Sulfite Oxidase

Sulfite oxidase is responsible for converting sulfites into sulfates. Your body produces sulfites and they occur naturally in some foods. But nowadays they’re commonly added to processed foods to ultimately increase their shelf-life. And we’re learning that a build-up of sulfites can have a wide range of harmful effects.

For example, sulfites have been shown to restrict the growth of some species of beneficial gut bacteria. Sulfite toxicity has also been associated with neurological problems. Plus, there have been many adverse reactions linked to sulfite exposure, including asthma, dermatitis, diarrhea, and more.

Sulfate is also a form of sulfur that is used by your body for a variety of vital functions, including detoxification, strengthening of connective tissue, and antioxidant defense.

Mitochondrial Amidoxime Reducing Component

While the function of this enzyme isn’t yet fully understood, mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC) is believed to also play a role in detoxification.

Therefore, molybdenum plays an important role in preventing the build-up of harmful toxins. This is especially important in modern times because our environment is filled with toxins. And even though we can limit our exposure to many, we can’t avoid them all.

Molybdenum Deficiency and Gluten

Even though trace amounts of molybdenum are needed, absorbing a sufficient amount can be difficult for those with gluten sensitivity. Because gluten destroys the lining of your small intestine where your food is fully digested and absorbed. Thus, nutrient deficiencies are common.

And then there’s glyphosate. An herbicide heavily sprayed on gluten containing grains (e.g., wheat and corn) that binds to molybdenum and prevents it from being absorbed. This further explains why molybdenum deficiencies are associated with celiac disease.

There aren’t many documented cases of molybdenum deficiency. However, below is a list of associated symptoms to look out for:

Nausea
Headaches
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Coma
Abdominal pain
Joint pain
Muscle aches
Night vision loss
Tachycardia (fast heart beat)
Night vision loss
Seizures

Some associated conditions include:

Brain damage or disease
Mental retardation
Eye lens dislocation
Cancer
Celiac disease

Best Food Sources of Molybdenum

You won’t find molybdenum in processed foods packed with gluten and toxic food additives. To get the molybdenum your body needs, consider consuming more of the following whole foods:

Peanuts
Black-Eyed Peas
Mung beans
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Pine Nuts
Parsley
Potatoes
Leafy vegetables
Seaweed
Garlic
Beef
Liver
Romaine lettuce
Eggs
Cucumbers
Celery
Bell peppers
Cod fish
Sesame seeds
Walnuts
Almonds

It’s important to note that too much molybdenum can also be problematic. For example, an excess may lead to a build-up of uric acid, which can cause gout as I mentioned previously.

It’s virtually impossible to overdo it by eating foods with molybdenum. But molybdenum supplementation is another story. So please be sure to consult with a licensed healthcare provider before supplementing.

And if you have gluten sensitivity and suspect a molybdenum deficiency, getting gluten out of your diet is most important. Because it’s the root of the problem. It’s likely contributing to your deficiency.

You may need to focus on foods rich in molybdenum or even supplement if that’s what your doctor recommends. But neither are a substitute for a gluten-free diet. Only once you fully eliminate gluten from your diet will your body begin to heal.

The post Are You Getting Enough Molybdenum? appeared first on Gluten Free Society.

Gluten & Digestive Enzymes

Peter Osborne — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:37:10 +0000

Table of contents

What are digestive enzymes?
Where are they produced, and why are they needed?
What role do digestive enzymes play for those with celiac disease and Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)?
Can digestive enzymes be taken to offset the effects of gluten in your body?

Digestive Enzymes are found naturally in your body and help to break down the food you eat so that nutrients can be absorbed and used by your body.

A variety of different types of enzymes are needed to support the digestion of all of the different foods you eat. These different enzymes are produced by your body in different parts of your digestive tract, from your mouth to your gut. The main categories of digestive enzymes include:

Amylase (made in the mouth and pancreas – breaks down complex carbohydrates)
Lipase (made in the stomach and pancreas – breaks down fats)
Protease (made in the stomach, pancreas, and small intestines – breaks down proteins)
Pepsin (made in the stomach – breaks down proteins)
Lactase (made in the small intestine, breaks down lactose – found in dairy products)

Some people, particularly those with compromised digestion, do not make sufficient digestive enzymes to properly digest their food. This may result in symptoms like gas, bloating, and feelings of fullness after eating. In these cases, supplemental enzymes can be supportive to help ease digestion and mitigate the symptoms of digestive certain types of food.

Why Do Those with celiac disease and non celiac gluten sensitivity need enzymes?

Gluten is often defined as a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, oats, and other grains. Common foods that contain gluten include pasta, bread, baked goods, and beer.

Those with celiac and NCGS have damage to their digestive tracts causing enzyme deficiencies and malabsorption. This can lead to a deficiency in the ability to produce digestive enzymes. For example, lactase, the enzyme that is needed to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk and other dairy products, is commonly deficient in those with gluten issues. This is one of the reasons why so many people following a gluten free diet also follow a dairy free diet.

In addition, gluten has been shown to damage the liver and gallbladder which can lead to fat malabsorption, and can damage the pancreas which reduces enzyme production.

Why does this matter? Digestive enzymes aren’t just to help alleviate digestive discomfort. A lack of digestive enzymes impacts nutrient absorption. Research shows that years of gluten induced damage can put someone with celiac disease or non celiac gluten sensitivity at risk for maldigestion and malabsorption. Of course, impaired nutrient absorption can lead to a wide range of other health concerns and diseases. And unfortunately, many people who develop health problems because of these nutritional deficits are medicated, because doctors do not routinely screen for nutritional problems. Some of these medications can also damage the GI tract leading to a cycle of worsening digestion over time.

Digestive enzymes can also support those with celiac disease and non celiac gluten sensitivity who have accidental gluten exposure. Even those who are meticulously careful likely ingest some accidental gluten due to cross contamination. In fact, research has shown that up to two-thirds of people who follow a gluten free diet are still exposed to gluten on a regular basis.

Do Digestive Enzymes Help With Gluten Intolerance?

Research studies have shown that using enzymes is beneficial to those with celiac disease and non celiac gluten sensitivity. In fact, one study noted significant improvements in both headaches and the feeling of incomplete evacuation caused by gluten ingestion. Bloating was also improved in the study participants. Digestive enzymes can help aid in the mitigation of symptoms caused by accidental gluten ingestion, as well as the digestion of other foods that may be difficult to digest, like dairy, legumes, other grains, and more.

However, digestive enzyme supplements are not intended to be taken to mitigate intentional gluten exposure. The only real treatment for celiac disease is a gluten free diet, and it is important to follow a strict gluten free diet even while taking digestive enzymes.

In addition, it is important to trust the manufacturer of your digestive enzyme supplement. Make sure your digestive supplement doesn’t contain hidden forms of gluten. Some trusted digestive enzyme supplements include Ultra Digest for broad digestion support, Gluten Shield for digestion support alongside targeted support for gluten digestion (thanks to the enzyme DPP-IV), and Dairy Shield, a targeted supplement to help break down gluten, lactose, and dairy proteins.

In addition to the enzymes listed above, additional digestive support can also be helpful. Specifically, support for stomach acid production like Ultra Acid is useful to combat the natural decline in stomach secretions that happens with normal aging. Ultra Acid provides stimulus for the excretion of pancreatic digestive juices in the small intestine, which is fundamental to healthy protein digestion, nutrient availability, and the maintenance of normal gastric flora. For support with fat digestion, Lipogest can help promote bile flow and aid the liver in its elimination of fatty substances.

Of course, before starting any new vitamin or supplement routine, it is always best to seek the advice of a trusted practitioner.

Will taking digestive enzymes cause an enzyme deficiency in the body?

The simple answer is no. There are no scientific studies to date that have shown that using digestive enzyme supplements lead to or cause your body to stop producing its own enzymes. Remember that many foods contain a robust array of digestive enzymes as well.

Foods That Contain Digestive Enzymes

In addition to supplementation, many foods contain natural enzymes that can help to aid in digestion. These foods include the following:

Apricots: contain invertase to help break down sugar
Avocados: contain lipase to help break down fats
Bananas: contain two digestive enzymes—amylases and glucosidases – which both help to break down carbohydrates
Ginger: contains zingibain, a protease that helps to break down protein
Raw honey: contains amylase, protease, diastase, and invertase that help break down both carbohydrates and protein
Kiwi: contains actinidain to help digest proteins
Mangoes: contains amylase to help digest carbohydrates
Miso: contains lactase, lipase, amylase, and protease, plus beneficial probiotics to help support the digestion of a number of different types of food
Papaya: contains protease to help break down protein
Pineapple: contains bromelain, a protease, to help break down protein
Fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut, kefir, etc.): contain a number of different enzymes to support overall digestion as well as gut health

The Bottom Line

There is no replacement for a strict gluten free diet, but Digestive enzyme supplements can aid digestion for those with celiac disease, non gluten sensitivity, or many other digestive concerns.

Take our gluten sensitivity test if you think you might benefit from digestive enzyme supplements.

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