“Just Eat More Fibre!” May Not be the Case for People with Celiac Disease
April 22, 2026
No Comments
Read More »
By Alyssa Ramuscak, RD Celiac Canada Research Analyst , April 22, 2026
We are excited to highlight the recent Nature Communications publication from J.A. Campbell Young Investigator 2023 award winner, Mark Wulczynski, PhD.
For individuals with celiac disease, eating a fibre-rich diet, or taking prescribed fibre supplements, has long been a mainstay strategy in supporting digestion and manage symptoms like constipation. However, recent research published in Nature Communications suggests that the advice to “eat more fibre” may not be that straightforward for people living with celiac disease!
In a study by Wulcynski and colleagues (2026), researchers found that people with celiac disease may have difficulty breaking down certain fibres in their small intestine. This appears to be linked to lower levels of fibre-degrading gut bacteria, known as Prevotellaceae, which play an important role in digesting fibres. Notably, this issue was observed in people who were already following a gluten-free diet, not just newly diagnosed patients.
The findings suggest that this reduced ability to break down fibre may be due to ongoing changes in the gut microbiome associated with celiac disease itself, rather than the gluten-free diet. As a result, the longstanding advice to “just eat more fibre” may not be effective for people with celiac disease, especially if the necessary gut bacteria to process that fibre is lacking.
In addition to this discovery, the researchers also explored how different types of fibre affect gut health in a preclinical mice study. Of the fibres, they found that inulin, a soluble prebiotic fibre found in asparagus, garlic, onions, and bananas, helped nourish the small intestinal microbiome. This, in turn, appeared to support faster healing from gluten-related damage in mice with celiac disease, even when they were already eating a gluten-free diet. While these findings are exciting, it is important to note that these findings on inulin were observed in a mouse model, meaning more research is needed to understand whether the same benefits would be seen in human trials.
Together, these findings highlight an important shift in how we think about fibre in celiac disease. It may not be enough to simply increase fibre intake; individuals may also need the right gut bacteria to effectively break down and benefit from fibres like inulin.
While this research is still emerging, it suggests that future strategies for managing celiac disease may go beyond strict adherence to a gluten-free diet alone. Instead, a more personalized approach that considers both nutrition and the gut microbiome may play a role in supporting gut healing and long-term health.
For now, these findings reinforce the importance of working with healthcare professionals to determine to identify appropriate dietary strategies, as researchers continue to learn more about how fibre and the microbiome interact in celiac disease.
To read the full article, check out:
Wulczynski, M., Constante, M., Galipeau, H.J. et al. Small intestinal microbial fiber metabolism dysfunction in celiac disease. Nat Commun 17, 2698 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-70644-4
News, hot topics, tips, education & more.
