Thursday, June 11, 2009

Gluten Free Tasting event Saturday June 13

Saturday-June 13, 2009 - Big Event Under a Tent.
The Canton Raisin Rack will be offering a gluten-free sampling day under the big top at its "Big Event Under a Tent" in the parking lot outside the Canton store on Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Gluten-free sampling will feature products from Celiac Specialties and Mr. Ritts Bakery. This will be a great time to stock up on gluten free cakes, pies, muffins, brownies, cookies, donut holes, Bread etc., as well as items not readily available in our immediate area ... Contact the Raisin Rack at 330-966-1515 for more information.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Akron Aeros Outing June 28, 2009

2009 Akron Celiac Support Group, Akron Aeros Outing #2

Game is Sunday June 28 at 1:35. Tickets are just $6 per person. With the perfect game coupon tickets will be $ 11. That includes game ticket, a hot dog, chips and a soft drink. Gluten free hot dogs can be ordered.

Money must be in by Monday June 15. You can pay at the support group meeting this Sunday June 14 at Akron Children's Hospital.

For details call Therese at 330-608-8436 or email at tsemonin1@neo.rr.com

Order form
_______

Name_________________

Number of game only tickets @ $6 each _________ = $__________

Number of game tickets with hhot dog specail @$11 each ___________ =$______

#Regular ___________ #Gluten Free ____________

Total enclosed $_____________

Make checks payable to Akron Celiac Support Group

Mail to Celiac Support Group/ Akron Aeros Outing
640 Fairhill Drive
Akron, Ohio 44313

Friday, June 5, 2009

Updated information on gluten and medications

From the desk of Pharmacist Steve Plogsted

Over the past few months a number of drug companies have been telling people that some of the drugs that they manufacture contain gluten. When I investigated their claims it appears that the reason they are blatantly claiming that their drugs are contaminated is because they have used a sugar alcohol as an excipient.

Sugar alcohols are not truly sugars or alcohols rather they are carbohydrates that provide a source of calories. The sugar alcohols are naturally found in a number of fruits and vegetables and may be extracted from many sources including any starch, including wheat. During the manufacturing process they are completely refined leaving behind no gluten proteins similar to making table sugar. The mostly widely used sugar alcohols used in prescription drug manufacturing are mannitol and xylitol. Both of the products are used either as sweeteners in liquid drug products or as bulking agents in the solid dosage forms.

The sugar alcohols are used in many diabetic products as well as in many health foods such as nutrition bars. Any person who consumes one of the sugar alcohols in significant quantities can experience gastrointestinal disturbances and diarrhea which may mimic symptoms celiac patients may suffer after being exposed to gluten.

National celiac organizations such as the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America® consider mannitol to be safe for use in celiac patients. Additionally, if you go to the Celiac.Com website dated 11/29/07 you will find a list of items safe for the celiac patient to consume. On that list you will also find both mannitol and xylitol as well as the following sugar alcohols sorbitol, malitol, lactilol and isomalt.

What does this means for the celiac patient? If you happen to contact a drug company for information and you are told that a drug contains gluten you really need to push them to tell you which excipient in that drug product is considered the source of the gluten contamination. If it turns out to be one sugar alcohols you may wish to re-evaluate their response. While it is always up to the celiac patient to determine whether a product is safe for them, the prevailing literature continues to suggest that these sugar alcohols are safe for use.

If you have any additional questions please contact me through the glutenfreedrugs.com website.

Steven Plogsted BS, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Nutrition Support Service
Nationwide Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205