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
Dr. Terry Wahls’ story
The commonalities between celiac disease and MS
How celiac disease affects the body
The symptoms of celiac cerebellar ataxia
The multi-organ manifestations of celiac disease in the central nervous system
Nadine’s patient who wasn’t responding to MS medication
The 2014 study in Vienna regarding celiac disease and MS
The new evidence around seronegativity in celiac disease
The 2014 Italian study of the genetic overlap between celiac disease and MS
The association between MS and celiac disease as reported by the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center
The genes that indicate a predisposition to celiac disease
The 2013 Iranian case study of a celiac patient diagnosed with MS
How gluten acts as a neurotoxin
The 2007 Oxford case study of celiac disease mimicking ALS
Why patients with neurological symptoms should be tested for celiac disease
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
The increased prevalence of celiac disease in MS patients revealed in a 2011 study
The fundamentals of MS
How to conduct your own research around celiac disease and neurological disorders
How long it takes to heal on a gluten-free diet
The nutrients a celiac patient is missing that contribute to neurological issues
The autoimmune symptoms Nadine resolved/reversed with a gluten-free diet
Why it’s important for celiac patients to work with educated practitioners who understand functional medicine
Resources:Dr. Terry Wahls’ TED Talk
The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principle by Terry Wahls MD
“Celiac Disease with Cerebral and Peripheral Nerve Involvement Mimicking Multiple Sclerosis” in the Journal of Medicine and Life
“Celiac Disease in Multiple Sclerosis: A Controversial Issue” in the International Journal of Neurology and Neurotherapy
University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center MS Info
“Multiple Sclerosis or Neurological Manifestations of Celiac Disease” in Advanced Biomedical Research
“A Case of Celiac Disease Mimicking Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” in Nature Clinical Practice Neurology
“Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Multiple Sclerosis” in BMC Neurology
“A Case of Concurrent Multiple Sclerosis and Celiac Disease” in Govaresh
“Neurological Disorders in Adult Celiac Disease” in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
“A Case of Multiple Sclerosis and Celiac Disease” in Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
Connect with Nadine:Contact via Email
‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube
Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine
Books by Nadine:Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism
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