Australian students find sourdough bread best for gluten intolerance

A group of Australian school students have found sourdough bread may indeed be the best type of bread for those with allergies to gluten.

The grade 10 to 12 students from schools across Western Australia worked with Murdoch University on the project and presented their findings at the International Gluten Biotechnology workshop held in Perth, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Thursday.

The students found many of the proteins that cause harm to those with gluten allergies are actually broken down in the process of making sourdough bread.

Sourdough undergoes a six-hour fermentation process before becoming bread.

Murdoch University wheat expert and research leader Prof. Rudi Appels said it was the students who came up with the study idea.

"We looked at sourdough and then we also looked at normal bread that was made from the same flour," Appels explained.

Though too early for commercial application, Appels said the study would lead to more research. Endi