VOC's in body fluids of treated and untreated Coeliac disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Non-invasive characterisation of the urinary and faecal volatile organic compound signatures of patients with coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten intolerance in response to gluten challenge and gluten free diet
IRAS ID
193907
Contact name
Chuka Nwokolo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Coeliac disease is caused by an adverse response to gluten in the small intestine of humans. It can cause nutritional deficiencies ranging from calories to critical vitamins and trace metals, The Coeliac patient returns almost to normal by eating a gluten free diet. A blood test is used to screen patients and an endoscopy (camera test) and biopsies from the small intestine taken are examined under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis prior to treatment with lifelong gluten free diet (GFD). GFD is difficult to adhere to since gluten is rampant in foods and the environment. The same blood test used for screening can be used to detect inadvertent consumption of gluten. We have shown that an electronic nose or similar device can be used to sort patients with Coeliac disease from those with other disease and normals. It is not known whether these devices which "sniff" urine or stools can tell when gluten inadvertently enters a patients diet. The only way this can be confirmed is by invasive tests like blood and endoscopy (and biopsy) tests. The electronic nose is able to detect volatile chemicals given off by the urine and stools of patients with Coeliac and other diseases and these can be likened to a chemical signature. We hope in this set of studies to show that it is possible using an electroinic nose to detect subtle changes in the chemicals emanating from the urine of patients when they receive small amouts of gluten. We will take this chance to confirm that patients with Coeliac dsease both on and off a gluten free diet can be seperated by detecting different chemical signatures in their urine. We will collect stools from Coeliac patients to see if the bacterial content correlates with the chemical signatures in the urine.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0160
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion