Researchers at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in New York affirmed that probiotics that are claimed to be gluten-free may not be completely free from gluten.

Probiotics contain traces of gluten that could cause some serious health complications to celiac disease patients. The research team, led by Dr. Samantha Nazareth, assessed 22 probiotic supplements available in the form of tablets.

These were labeled as gluten-free. When they were assessed, more than half or around 55% of the products were tested positive for traces of gluten. Out of all, four were having gluten more than 20 parts per million limits.

The researchers have raised concern about the same. “We have previously reported that celiac patients who use dietary supplements have more symptoms than non-users, so we decided to test the probiotics for gluten contamination”, said Dr. Nazareth.

On the other hand, Benjamin Lebwohl, CUMC assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology, affirmed that most of the patients develop intestinal damage when they have more than 10 milligrams of gluten on daily basis.

But it cannot happen unless patients are having mega-doses. Another thing noticed by researchers is that nutritional labels do not reveal the exact details of the contents of their products. It is not at all safe for those with diseases that prevent them to take in gluten.

Consumers have been asked to remain cautious while reading labels and ensure they are having safe food. The research presented at the Digestive Disease Week 2015 meeting in Washington, D.C, unveiled that gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye.

If a person having celiac disease has it, then their immune system would attack the villi of the small intestines.