Every couple of years, the herbicide glyphosate makes headlines around the world. While the herbicide is commonly used in many countries, numerous studies have pointed out its potential harmful effects. Gluten intolerance could be one of its impacts.
What is glyphosate?
Glyphosate is a chemical widely used in herbicidal products and is the most commonly used herbicide in the world. It’s a key ingredient in Bayer AG’s popular herbicide, Roundup. Pesticides based on glyphosate are used in horticulture and agriculture to combat weeds that compete with cultivated crops. They are also used to keep weeds off railway tracks and help crops dry and ripen. Glyphosate has been in use for almost five decades and is present in hundreds of pesticides. Not only farmers but home gardeners use it too. It is most commonly used in France, Poland, and Germany among EU countries. The US, Brazil, Canada, China, and Argentina are the world’s leading glyphosate-based herbicide users.
Why is it controversial?
Glyphosate kills weeds, leading to the loss of habitat and food sources for insects and other animals, impacting biodiversity. Furthermore, its widespread use means traces of the substance have been found in foods, including breakfast cereals and cookies. Residues have been detected in water, soil, drinks, and human urine.
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A). This resulted in numerous lawsuits, many targeting Bayer, which acquired Roundup maker Monsanto in 2018. However, the herbicide has not been banned in either the EU or the US. The European Union extended the use of glyphosate, following a risk assessment group’s conclusion that the pesticide “does not meet the criteria to be classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction.” According to an article in The Washington Post, the US Environmental Protection Agency has also maintained that glyphosate is “not likely to be carcinogenic.”
For more information on glyphosate and its potential side-effects, go to Drugwatch.com
Glyphosate, gluten Intolerance, and Celiac Disease
Researchers Jacqueline A. Barnett and Deanna L. Gibson have noted that the desiccation of crops gained popularity in the 1990s. Desiccation involves applying a chemical to a plant before harvest to kill vegetation, correcting uneven growth, and is common in regions with short, damp growing seasons. Cereal grains, particularly wheat, are susceptible to uneven ripening and are often desiccated before harvesting. Glyphosate is used as a desiccant to ripen wheat within weeks and also controls green weeds, making it one of the most commonly used chemicals.
Glyphosate inhibits the shikimate pathway, a carbohydrate metabolism pathway crucial for synthesizing chorismate, vital for many plant functions including the production of aromatic amino acids, hormones, and vitamins. Mammals do not possess the shikimate pathway, which is why glyphosate is not considered toxic to humans. However, recent studies have highlighted the potential carcinogenic effects of glyphosate. Furthermore, it may have an indirect impact by targeting the gut microbiome, which harbors millions of microorganisms living in a functional ecosystem.
Finally…
The authors suggest that some pathogenic bacteria may have mutations allowing them to survive glyphosate ingestion, unlike gut-friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. This could damage the gut microbiome and cause chronic inflammation. “Glyphosate may be a critical environmental trigger in the etiology of several disease states associated with dysbiosis, including celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome,” the authors conclude in their study.
The potential link between glyphosate and gluten-related disorders such as Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity underscores the complexity of understanding how environmental factors can influence human health. While glyphosate remains a widely used and effective herbicide, concerns about its safety continue to be a subject of significant research and debate. The findings of researchers like Barnett and Gibson highlight the need for further investigation into how glyphosate may affect the gut microbiome and contribute to chronic inflammatory conditions.
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