Celiac disease, and, more generally,
gluten intolerance, is a growing problem worldwide, but especially in North America and Europe, where an estimated 5% of the population now suffers from it. Symptoms include
nausea,
diarrhea, skin rashes,
macrocytic anemia and depression. It is a multifactorial disease associated with numerous
nutritional deficiencies as well as reproductive issues and increased risk to
thyroid disease,
kidney failure and
cancer. Here, we propose that
glyphosate, the active ingredient in the
herbicide,
Roundup(®), is the most important causal factor in this epidemic. Fish exposed to
glyphosate develop digestive problems that are reminiscent of
celiac disease.
Celiac disease is associated with imbalances in gut bacteria that can be fully explained by the known effects of
glyphosate on gut bacteria. Characteristics of
celiac disease point to impairment in many
cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved with detoxifying environmental toxins, activating
vitamin D3, catabolizing
vitamin A, and maintaining
bile acid production and
sulfate supplies to the gut.
Glyphosate is known to inhibit
cytochrome P450 enzymes. Deficiencies in
iron,
cobalt,
molybdenum,
copper and other rare metals associated with
celiac disease can be attributed to
glyphosate's strong ability to chelate these elements. Deficiencies in
tryptophan,
tyrosine,
methionine and
selenomethionine associated with
celiac disease match
glyphosate's known depletion of these
amino acids.
Celiac disease patients have an increased risk to
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which has also been implicated in
glyphosate exposure. Reproductive issues associated with
celiac disease, such as
infertility,
miscarriages, and
birth defects, can also be explained by
glyphosate.
Glyphosate residues in wheat and other crops are likely increasing recently due to the growing practice of crop desiccation just prior to the harvest. We argue that the practice of "ripening"
sugar cane with
glyphosate may explain the recent surge in
kidney failure among agricultural workers in Central America. We conclude with a plea to governments to reconsider policies regarding the safety of
glyphosate residues in foods.