This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

This is a very interesting excerpt. I have had ELISA testing for IgG and have no antibodies to gliadin and gluten. So I think I can discount it as having much of an affect on me. My IgG levels are on the low side of normal.

If, however, the we are looking at MS as a syndrome then one can speculate that this may be a trigger for some people. Coeliac disease can cause very similar looking lesions on an MRI and some neurologist have started testing for coeliac as a differential with MS.

Also interesting is the recent reports that increased IgA antibodies in MS may protect against myelin degradation caused by IgM and IgG.

The question is why is there an increased uptake in some proteins from the gut? Could it be leaky gut syndrome? Lots of theories about this being connected to MS. Maybe for some people it is? Zinc is excellent for strengthening the gut wall and has been used to good effect in Crohn's disease. Studies used oral zinc sulfate supplements at 110 mg three times a day. This may be too high for someone with MS as Zinc at this level may have an unwanted affect on the immune system but even a little bit of zinc may help.

IgA antibodies against gliadin and gluten in multiple sclerosis
K.-L. Reichelt1, D. Jensen2
Background -Multiple changes in antibodies against various antigens are found in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective -We wanted to measure immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to some common food antigens in MS and also IgG against gliadin and gluten.

Methods -The IgA antibodies were measured in serum against gluten, gliadin, lactoglobulin, lactalbumin, casein and ovalbumin in patients with MS and controls using ELISA technique. IgG was likewise measured for gluten and gliadin.

Results -Highly significant increases compared with controls were found for IgA and IgG antibodies against gliadin and gluten. IgA antibodies against casein were significantly increased. Anti-endomycium and anti-transglutaminase antibodies were negative.

Conclusions -The data presented indicate that there may be a possible moderately increased uptake of some specific proteins from the gut in MS compared with controls.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/openur ... &spage=239

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