Multiple Sclerosis and Celiac Disease EP040

Description

According to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, 10% of MS patients also suffer from celiac disease. Studies conducted in Italy and Spain uncovered a significant increased prevalence of celiac disease in first-degree relatives of MS patients, 18% and 32% respectively. Additional research has identified situations in which celiac disease mimicked other neurological disorders such as MS and ALS.

With evidence like that, it is definitely worth it to further explore the relationship between MS and celiac disease. Today, the Gluten Free RN investigates whether MS and celiac disease are similar, related, or perhaps the same thing, as she shares case studies from the literature and her own experience.

Nadine discusses the story of Dr. Terry Wahls, explaining how she was able to resolve her symptoms of MS with a variation of a Paleo diet. She outlines the analogous symptoms of MS and celiac cerebellar ataxia, the neurological damage caused by gluten, and how malabsorption of nutrients caused by intestinal damage can extend to medication. Listen and learn how Nadine and others have resolved symptoms of MS and other neurological disorders on a gluten-free diet!

What's Discussed:

Nadine's MS scare

Bouts with falling, dragging feet
Numbness, tingling (neuropathy)
Symptoms disappeared after adopting gluten-free diet
Takes two to three years to resolve neurological symptoms

Dr. Terry Wahls' story

Diagnosed with MS, confined to wheelchair
Continued to research condition
Adopted version of Paleo diet
Now walks without cane, rides bike again
Conducts seminars to share how healed mitochondria

The commonalities between celiac disease and MS

Both autoimmune issues
Studies necessary to determine if conditions are similar, related, or the same

How celiac disease affects the body

Triggered by ingestion of gluten
Causes villous atrophy, cryptic hyperplasia in small intestines, damage to immune system
Primarily neurological disorder

The symptoms of celiac cerebellar ataxia

Poor balance
Hard to distinguish where body is in space
Trip, stumble or fall
Related to vision

The multi-organ manifestations of celiac disease in the central nervous system

White matter lesions
Inflammatory cerebral spinal fluid syndrome
Sinus venous thrombosis
Epilepsy, seizure disorders
Cerebellar pontine atrophy
Encephalopathy
Myelopathy
Dementia
Gluten ataxia
Migraines, headaches
Depression, anxiety
Cerebellar ataxia

Nadine's patient who wasn't responding to MS medication

Nadine recommended celiac testing
Panel negative, but gene carrier
Already adopted gluten-free diet
Fewer medications necessary
Hope to decrease, discontinue meds
Malabsorption issues extend to medications, could stem from undiagnosed celiac disease

The 2014 study in Vienna regarding celiac disease and MS

Concluded that celiac disease may mimic MS
Celiac disease may be present despite absence of anti-gliadin antibodies
If patient history indicates gastrointestinal issues, celiac disease should be considered even if CSF and MRI findings suggest MS

The new evidence around seronegativity in celiac disease

Most labs only test for tissue transglutaminase 2
Transglutaminase 6 is specific for neurological damage caused by gluten

The 2014 Italian study of the genetic overlap between celiac disease and MS

Sites significant increased prevalence of celiac disease in MS first-degree relatives (18%)
Recommends celiac testing in MS patients who aren't responding to MS treatment or present with ataxia

The association between MS and celiac disease as reported by the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center

Approximately 10% of those who have MS also have celiac disease

The genes that indicate a predisposition to celiac disease

HLA-DQ2
HLA-DQ8

The 2013 Iranian case study of a celiac patient diagnosed with MS

37-year-old woman with history of chronic abdominal pain
Diagnosed with celiac disease, adopted gluten-free diet
Became ataxic, met with neurologist
MRI indicated multiple sclerosis
Nadine argues that patient likely re-exposed to gluten

How gluten acts as a neurotoxin

Pastor exposed to gluten in cookies had acute neurological event
Shaking, tremors (similar to stroke)

The 2007 Oxford case study of celiac disease mimicking ALS

44-year-old man with progressive right-sided spastic hemiparesis (muscle wasting)
Remote family history of celiac disease
Strict gluten-free diet resolved most symptoms

Why patients with neurological symptoms should be tested for celiac disease

The anti-gliadin antibody is excellent biomarker for gluten sensitivity

Why it is acceptable to adopt a gluten-free diet if your antibody test is negative for celiac disease

The Paleo diet Nadine suggests for celiac and gluten-sensitive patients

Gluten-, dairy-free
Whole food
Low carb, super-good high fat

The increased prevalence of celiac disease in MS patients revealed in a 2011 study

Increased prevalence found in eight of 72 MS patients (11.1%)
Also in first-degree relatives (13/126 or 32%)
Advises increased efforts aimed at early detection and dietary treatment

The fundamentals of MS

Chronic disease of unknown etiology
T-cell mediated antibody response
Leads to demyelination of central nervous system
Associated with autoimmunity (body attacking itself)
Damage to enteric nervous system can lead to constipation

How to conduct your own research around celiac disease and neurological disorders

Celiac researcher Dr. Marios Hadjivassiliou

How long it takes to heal on a gluten-free diet

Villous atrophy heals in six months to one year
Neurological damage takes two to four years

The nutrients a celiac patient is missing that contribute to neurological issues

B vitamins
Trace amounts of copper
Magnesium
Zinc

The autoimmune symptoms Nadine resolved/reversed with a gluten-free diet

MS symptoms
Graves' disease
Positive ANA panel

Why it's important for celiac patients to work with educated practitioners who understand functional medicine

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