Getting Back at Celiac: Enzyme treatment might stem wheat intolerance

A combination of two enzymes could eventually treat celiac disease, an inherited digestive disorder that affects about 1 percent of people worldwide.

People with this condition, also known as celiac sprue, can’t tolerate gluten, a protein present in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. When celiac patients ingest the protein, it sets off an immune response that inflames the small intestine and leads to weight loss, diarrhea, and other symptoms.