Toxicity mechanisms of wheat and other cereals in celiac disease and related enteropathies.

This paper is a critical appraisal of current theories on the mechanisms of toxicity of wheat and other cereals in celiac disease and some related enteropathies. The "peptidase deficiency," "primary immune defect," and "gluten-lectin" theories on celiac disease are examined and critically discussed on the basis of the relevant data available in 88 references. Special attention has been paid in this review to the nature of the cereal components triggering the appearance of toxic symptoms and signs in celiac disease as well as to underlying action mechanisms. The gluten-lectin theory is the one best able to explain, in addition to celiac disease, some secondary intolerances that may occur in temporarily predisposed individuals as a consequence of several causes, including viral hepatitis and intestinal infections, as well as the occurrence of intestinal lesions in healthy subjects administered very high amounts of gluten.