Measuring gluten in wheat starch with a new lab method
What it found
A new lab test found more gluten in most wheat starch samples than the standard test did.
It picked up a type of gluten protein that older tests often miss.
What they found
Hidden gluten proteins found
The new lab test showed that most wheat starch samples contained notable amounts of glutenins. This is a part of gluten that standard test kits often miss.
Higher gluten readings overall
In 19 out of 26 wheat starch samples, the new method measured more total gluten than the standard test kit. The new method added together both parts of gluten for its count.
What the authors conclude
- They suggest the new lab method could be used alongside standard test kits to measure gluten in wheat starch more completely.
- Their method adds up both main parts of gluten instead of relying on just one.
How it was done
Purified wheat starch is used in many gluten-free foods for people with celiac disease, but some worry it still contains hidden gluten. Standard test kits mostly detect one part of gluten and can miss another part called glutenins.
Scientists tested 26 wheat starch samples using a newly developed lab method. They compared the results to those from a standard test kit commonly used in the food industry.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work only looked at how much gluten is in wheat starch using lab equipment. It did not study what happens when people with celiac disease eat these products.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Leibniz Institut, Germany
The paper
- Title
- Improved Quantitation of Gluten in Wheat Starch for Celiac Disease Patients by Gel-Permeation High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection (GP-HPLC-FLD)
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Scherf KA, Wieser H, Koehler P (2016). Improved Quantitation of Gluten in Wheat Starch for Celiac Disease Patients by Gel-Permeation High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection (GP-HPLC-FLD). Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.6b02512PubMed 27633005DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error