Wheat mystery: which part really upsets IBS sufferers?
NCT ID NCT03664531
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether purified gluten or whole wheat (which contains gluten plus other proteins) causes stomach and gut symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Twenty-nine adults with IBS who had previously felt better on a gluten-free diet took part. They ate special bars containing either purified gluten, whole wheat, or a gluten-free sham bar for one week each, while staying on a gluten-free diet. The goal was to see which bar made their symptoms worse, helping to pinpoint what in wheat might be the real trigger.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
purified gluten and whole wheat (gluten with amylase-trypsin inhibitors)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help identify which components of wheat cause symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome, leading to better dietary advice.
What could go wrong
This is a small, completed trial with only 29 participants, so results may not apply to everyone with IBS. It tests short-term effects, not long-term outcomes.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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McMaster University Medical Centre
Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada