A recent study looked at the effects of larazotide acetate on 342 adults with celiac disease who had persistent symptoms and were on a gluten-free diet for 12 months or more. Study participants maintained their gluten-free diet throughout the study. After four weeks of placebo, these participants took larazotide acetate in doses of 0.5, 1, or 2mg three times a day for 12 weeks. They went back to placebos for another four weeks afterward. The study had promising results.

While those who were given 1 or 2mg doses showed no differences in outcomes from placebo stages, participants who took 0.5mg doses reported more positive effects. 26% of those who were given 0.5mg doses reported a decrease in symptomatic days and 31% reported an increase in “improved symptom days.” Abdominal pain, headaches, and tiredness were among the symptoms alleviated in this group.

Although more research is needed, larazotide acetate may work better than the gluten-free diet alone in some patients.

Visit GastroJournal.org to learn more about the study.