This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Abstract

Background
Celiac disease (CD) is a common systemic disease related to a permanent intolerance to gluten and is often associated with different autoimmune and neurological diseases. Its mean prevalence in the general population is 1-2% worldwide. Our aim was to study the prevalence of celiac disease in a prospective series of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and their first-degree relatives.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/3124

Ha! Tell me about it!
Seriously though, any MS'ers reading, if you've been told you've IBS, please go back to your GP and insist on a blood test for celiac disease. IBS is often misdiagnosed and celiac is more likely. My MS improved (it didn't dissapear, just is less severe) when I found I was celiac and stayed gluten-free. Hope this might help even one other MS'er out there..................

Maybe this is obvious, but as someone with a ton of celiacs in the family, who has been living with this diet for almost tenty years and has seen major advances in celiac knowledge . . . remember the misdiagnosis rate for MS is 5 to 10 percent. I think many people who have amazing recoveries from many illnesses from various diets do so because the diets include a gluten-free component. I think many, many people are undiagnosed celiacs.

I think many people who have been told theey have MS but then improve on a GF diet may in fact have celiac disease and not have MS at all. Celiac disease can cause many of the same symptoms as MS. It can cause lesions on the MRI. It can cause multiple nutritional abnormailities that produce neurolgical symptoms that mimic MS symptoms.

Testing for celiac disease is only accurate BEFORE you go on an alternative diet. I urge peopple to get tested before they try alternative diets. Of course you could go ahead and change your diet anyway, but if you do, you will never know if you have gluten intolerance, and then you will be more likely to stop complying with the diet after a number of years. This will open you to the possibility of lymphoma, renewed silent damage, etc.

The target of damage in gluten intolerance can be any organ -- the intestines, the brain, the skin, the immune system, etc. Most awareness has been focused on the intestines.

I am an example of someone who has celiac in the family but does not have celiac disease but DOES have MS. I have been tested so many times for celiac, and I have followed a GF diet for many years, and I still have a big case of MS. So there is still a co-genetic issue, and gluten is not the only answer, but definitely the gluten factor can be huge for many people.

Thanks for the post, squiffy.

bluesky you are sooo right!!! I am on a gluten free diet and no one would ever guess I have MS (though i still have pain all day long..) but the diet is a major component to my "healing" process... I think everyone with MS shoudl start with a serious gluten free diet anyway, I am convinced it's the gut inflammation that provokes the brain inflammation which starts the MS process...

IMHO there's a link between low zinc, celiac disease, and ms. fyi

i used to have low zinc and a lot of typical ms 'norms'

also used to react really badly to wheat for example

low zinc resolved, problem solved whew!

If you want more info on Celiac, check out celiac.com.

There have been so many advances in Celiac Disease, and lots of controversy between being gluten intolerant and having Celiac disease. I would say that I am gluten intolerant, but I do not have Celiac disease. Eating gluten causes me abdominal pain, and severe migraines. I use to get sinus & lung infections all time and have "asthma" symptoms, which I've not had since I went gluten-free. My Dr would not test me for Celiac because I was of normal weight, he was typically misinformed about Celiac's being severely underweight. I remain undiagnosed for Celiac as I refuse to go back on a gluten diet to be tested. Because of the weight misconception, there is only a very small percent of Celiac diagnosed in North America (If I remember correctly it's 5-10%). Where research findings in Sweden where Celiac Disease is diagnosed correctly in approx 30% of patients have found that most Celiac patients are of normal weight to obese (this was a 10yr study findings released last year). Only 5% were underweight. I have read many thread and articles that mention the relationship of gluten intolerance/celiac and MS. I believe the Swank diet also states no wheat products. And going gluten free is highly advisable for MS sufferers. If you are going gluten free, make sure you research it so you are getting adequate nutrition. Gluten also includes barley, oats, spelt, and there are loads of gluten based additives too. If you are Celiac or gluten intolerant, it's much more than just not eating wheat, you have to read ingredients! ie: MSG is gluten based... soy sauce has wheat in it...

BTW, I have no vitamin or mineral dificiencies. I eat very healthy foods, and take many different supplements. My test always come back in the mid to high range of normal. (I am also a chocoholic I will NEVER give up chocolate!)

careful re normal range.. most of my tests come back fine. but they are not fine when you look at ranges and target levels in research, rather than comparing your result to other people in the lab. people can be (are) societally deficient in important nutrients.

Thank you Jimmylegs. I am careful with my ranges. I've been in the Health and Wellness industry for 10 yrs now, and I've had my blood tests in both mainstream and Naturopathic. My MIL is a live & dry blood analyst, so I get it checked regularly. I take my supplement accordingly and faithfully. My MIL has already detected weakness in my nervous system, but I am not taking any Naturopathic remedies until I get my diagnosis. I could still only have peripheral neuropathy from my fall, and just be celiac/gluten intolerant.

Thanks again!

so hunny, may i ask, what is your serum zinc level? healthy controls should have levels around 18 umol/L. the range is more like 10-20 umol/L...

Interesting...I just have to add that considering all my strange and sometimes violent reactions to food/meds/supplements, gluten and dairy are just about the only things I've never noticed any problem with at all. I've kept symptom charts (including meds/supplements) for about 7 years now, and also added a daily food diary about 3-4 years ago as well. Both charts have helped me identify sensitivities and major reactions to stuff I swallow and immediately make adjustments.

I've also noticed that my body reacts poorly to so many things, the less I eat the better I feel. So, I guess I don't do that much gluten anyway.