MedPage Today (8/27, Fiore) reported a letter in The Lancet suggesting that “the data ‘mandate’ that clinicians warn patients having Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery that they could experience ‘a major difference in their capacity to handle alcohol after their surgery.'” The effect may be due to “alcohol-producing bacteria that accumulate in the bypassed duodenal-jejunal loop” that ferment carbohydrates. MedPage Today also explained that sugary foods eaten after the bypass can also be harmful to the patient, resulting on “dumping syndrome.” MedPage Today noted that while “most bariatric surgeons said they do warn patients that their tolerance for alcohol will change,” some “aren’t sufficiently educating patients.”

HealthDay (8/20, Thompson) reported, “Complaints of celiac disease are on the rise in the United States,” with “one in every 133 US residents” believed to be affected by the disease, although “adults with celiac disease often don’t suffer the digestive symptoms associated with gluten intolerance.” This “increased incidence rate has left researchers scrambling to figure out why more people are developing the chronic digestive disorder.” Some researchers hypothesize that increased sanitation and hygiene could be making immune systems more sensitive or changing the bacteria in our gut. Others attribute the rise to more gluten in grains today, earlier exposure to gluten, and fewer women breast feeding.

Dr. Michael Roth will be joining Gastroenterology Specialties and Lincoln Endoscopy Center in August.  Dr. Roth has a fellowship and board certification in gastroenterology.  He has spent the last year obtaining advanced interventional training in ERCP and EUS.  Call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Michael Roth.