Celiac.com 01/19/2026 - This six-month study explored whether removing gluten from the diet could influence disease progression, inflammation, and body composition in women living with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a long-term autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, leading to inflammation, nerve damage, and gradual disability. Because the course of the disease can vary greatly from person to person, researchers have become increasingly interested in whether dietary approaches might help reduce inflammation or slow disease-related changes.

The researchers focused on a gluten-free eating pattern, which is essential for people with celiac disease but is sometimes followed by others with autoimmune conditions. The goal was to see whether avoiding gluten could reduce markers of inflammation in the blood, improve physical measurements such as weight and waist size, and lead to measurable improvements in neurological disability.

Why Diet and the Gut Matter in Autoimmune Disease

Growing research suggests that the digestive system plays an important role in immune health. The gut is home to trillions of bacteria that help digest food, support the immune system, and protect against harmful microbes. When the balance of these bacteria is disrupted, harmful substances produced by certain bacteria can leak into the bloodstream and trigger inflammation throughout the body.

One such substance is lipopolysaccharide, a component of the outer wall of certain bacteria. When elevated in the bloodstream, it is known to stimulate immune responses and promote inflammation. In autoimmune diseases, chronic exposure to inflammatory triggers like this may worsen disease activity. Gluten has been suggested as one possible contributor to increased intestinal permeability, allowing inflammatory substances to pass more easily from the gut into the blood.

How the Study Was Conducted

The study followed fifty-four adult women diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis over a six-month period. Participants were divided into two equal groups. One group followed a structured gluten-free diet, receiving education about gluten-containing foods along with personalized meal plans based on individual preferences and living circumstances. The second group continued eating gluten but was given general advice on healthy eating, without specific restrictions.

Researchers collected detailed information at the beginning of the study, after three months, and again after six months. This included body weight, body mass index, waist and hip measurements, body fat levels, dietary intake, and blood samples. Disability related to multiple sclerosis was measured using a standardized neurological scale designed to track changes in physical function over time.

Changes in Inflammation and Immune Activity

One of the most important findings involved blood levels of lipopolysaccharide, a marker linked to inflammation originating in the gut. Women who followed the gluten-free diet showed a clear and meaningful reduction in these levels over the six-month period. In contrast, those who continued eating gluten tended to show stable or increased levels.

This reduction suggests that removing gluten may have improved gut barrier function or altered the balance of gut bacteria in a way that reduced inflammatory signals entering the bloodstream. Lower levels of systemic inflammation may be particularly important in autoimmune diseases, where ongoing immune activation contributes to tissue damage.

Effects on Disability and Disease Progression

Disability related to multiple sclerosis was assessed at the beginning and end of the study. Participants on the gluten-free diet experienced a modest but statistically meaningful improvement in disability scores. This indicates slightly better neurological function or fewer physical limitations after six months. In comparison, the group that continued eating gluten showed no measurable change in disability.

Although the improvement was small, it is notable because multiple sclerosis typically follows a progressive course over time. Any intervention that stabilizes or slightly improves physical function may be clinically meaningful, especially when added alongside standard medical treatment.

Improvements in Weight and Body Composition

Women in the gluten-free group also experienced significant improvements in body weight and related measurements. On average, they lost weight, reduced waist and hip circumference, and decreased overall body fat. Importantly, lean body mass was preserved, suggesting that weight loss reflected healthier changes rather than muscle loss.

These changes were not seen in the group that continued eating gluten. Excess body fat is known to promote inflammation, and weight reduction alone may help lower inflammatory burden. The combination of improved body composition and reduced inflammatory markers suggests that the dietary intervention had multiple beneficial effects.

Dietary Changes Observed During the Study

Participants following the gluten-free diet consumed fewer calories and fewer carbohydrates over time. This shift may have contributed to weight loss and metabolic improvements. Intake of protein, fat, fiber, and most vitamins remained stable, suggesting that the diet was nutritionally adequate when properly planned. A small decrease in vitamin A intake was noted, highlighting the importance of careful dietary guidance when eliminating food groups.

These findings emphasize that a gluten-free diet does not simply remove gluten-containing foods, but often changes overall eating patterns. With appropriate education and planning, it can support weight management without leading to major nutrient deficiencies.

Limitations and Considerations

The study had several limitations that should be considered. It included only women and followed participants for six months, which limits conclusions about long-term effects or applicability to men. The number of participants was relatively small, and adherence to a gluten-free diet can be challenging, particularly in cultures where grain-based foods are common.

Additionally, while the findings show associations between the gluten-free diet and improved outcomes, they do not prove that gluten alone was responsible for all observed benefits. Weight loss, changes in food quality, and other lifestyle factors may also have contributed.

Why This Study Matters for People With Celiac Disease

For people with celiac disease, this study offers important reassurance and broader context. A gluten-free diet is medically necessary for celiac disease to prevent intestinal damage and long-term complications. This research suggests that the benefits of gluten avoidance may extend beyond the gut and influence systemic inflammation and immune activity.

The findings support the idea that gluten can play a role in inflammatory processes affecting the nervous system and immune regulation. For individuals with celiac disease who also experience neurological symptoms or have concerns about autoimmune conditions, this study adds to growing evidence that strict adherence to a gluten-free diet may have wide-ranging health benefits.

While people with celiac disease should not view this research as proof that a gluten-free diet prevents or treats other autoimmune diseases, it reinforces the importance of maintaining dietary compliance and highlights the powerful connection between gut health, inflammation, and overall well-being.

Read more at: sciencedirect.com

Watch the video version of this article:

Watch the super short video version of this article:

Celiac.com 10/30/2025 - This article explores research on how nutrition and physical activity can influence the experience of living with multiple sclerosis. The review brings together recent studies on different dietary approaches and forms of exercise, highlighting which choices may offer the greatest support for managing symptoms, improving daily function, and enhancing overall quality of life.

Multiple sclerosis is a long-term condition that affects the central nervous system. Medicines remain essential, but they do not always address fatigue, mood, mobility, or broader quality-of-life concerns. The review asked a practical question: can nutrition and physical activity add meaningful benefits on top of standard care, and if so, which approaches look most promising and sustainable for real people?

How The Review Was Conducted

The authors searched modern medical databases for studies published in recent years. They focused on trials and observational research that reported changes in inflammation, symptoms, function, or quality of life. They then grouped findings into two big buckets: dietary patterns and physical activity programs. The goal was not to crown a single winner, but to understand where the strongest signals appear and where caution is still needed.

What The Research Says About Eating Patterns

Mediterranean-style eating

A Mediterranean-style pattern emphasizes vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, and regular fish, with modest dairy and very limited highly processed foods. Across studies, this way of eating is linked with lower levels of inflammation, better metabolic health, and signals of protection for brain cells. People who stick with it tend to report less fatigue and better mood, and some research suggests slower disability accumulation. It is also flexible and easier to live with than very restrictive plans, which matters for long-term success.

Ketogenic eating

A ketogenic pattern is high in fat, very low in carbohydrate, and moderate in protein. Early studies suggest it may calm inflammatory activity, improve energy handling in cells, and reduce fatigue for some people. Several reports also describe improvements in mood and self-rated quality of life. At the same time, it can be hard to sustain and may require careful medical and dietitian supervision to avoid nutrient gaps or unwanted changes in blood lipids.

Swank and Wahls approaches

The Swank approach focuses on keeping saturated fat very low while emphasizing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. People following it often report less fatigue, though the plan may fall short on some nutrients if not planned well. The Wahls approach removes gluten, dairy, legumes, and most processed foods while pushing a very high intake of vegetables and some organ meats. Studies report improvements in fatigue and mental well-being, but the plan is demanding and can miss nutrients like calcium and vitamin B12 without guidance. Both require thoughtful planning and monitoring.

Gluten-free eating in multiple sclerosis

Research on gluten-free eating for people with multiple sclerosis who do not have celiac disease is mixed and limited. Some small studies hint at benefits, while others do not. The safest conclusion today is that a gluten-free plan is essential for people with celiac disease or confirmed gluten sensitivity, but it is not yet a general recommendation for everyone with multiple sclerosis. If tried, it should be done with a dietitian so that fiber, vitamins, and minerals remain adequate.

Fasting and time-restricted eating

Intermittent schedules, such as eating within an eight-hour window each day or following periodic fasting-mimicking cycles, show early signs of reducing inflammatory activity and improving fatigue, mood, and sometimes cognition. Many people tolerate gentle time-restricted eating better than more extreme fasting. These methods are not suitable for everyone, and medical guidance is advised, especially for those with other conditions or on certain medications.

What The Research Says About Physical Activity

Aerobic training

Regular activities such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming can reduce systemic inflammation and consistently help with fatigue, cardiovascular fitness, and mood. Some benefits build slowly over months, so a steady habit beats short intense bursts.

Resistance training

Strength work using body weight, bands, or light weights improves muscle power, balance, and performance of daily tasks. It may reduce spasticity and fall risk when introduced gradually and supervised at first.

Sensorimotor and balance training

Targeted balance and coordination exercises deliver strong gains in quality of life for people with milder disability. These drills sharpen gait stability and confidence and can be combined with other training.

Mind–body practices

Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi support better emotional regulation, lower perceived stress, and reductions in fatigue. They also improve flexibility and body awareness, which can ease stiffness and reduce discomfort.

Combined programs

Mixing aerobic and resistance training tends to give the broadest benefits across endurance, strength, fatigue, and mood. For those with more advanced disability, adaptive formats such as seated strength work, aquatic exercise, or functional electrical stimulation cycling can be effective and safer.

Safety, Personalization, and Sustainability

No single plan fits everyone. People with multiple sclerosis vary widely in symptoms, energy, heat sensitivity, mobility, and life demands. The strongest results come when a plan is individualized, simple enough to live with, and supported by the care team.

• Work with professionals: A registered dietitian can protect against nutrient gaps and help tailor a plan. A physical therapist or trained coach can adapt movement to current ability and help pace activity to avoid overdoing it.
• Start low and build: Small, repeatable steps are more powerful than heroic efforts that cannot be maintained.
• Watch heat and fatigue: Exercise in cool settings, schedule rest, hydrate, and modify plans during flares or illnesses.
• Measure what matters: Track personal goals like fewer fatigue days, better sleep, steadier mood, or easier daily tasks, not only medical test results.

Key Takeaways You Can Use Now

• A Mediterranean-style pattern is the most practical everyday foundation for many people.
• Ketogenic, Swank, Wahls, gluten-free without celiac disease, and fasting methods may help selected individuals but require more guidance and caution.
• Regular movement is non-negotiable for well-being: combine aerobic, strength, and flexibility in a way that feels doable.
• Consistency beats perfection. The best plan is the one you can keep.

Why This Matters For People With Celiac Disease

If you live with celiac disease, you already know that nutrition choices shape daily life. This review adds a useful perspective: for a neurological condition like multiple sclerosis, a thoughtful eating pattern and regular movement can influence fatigue, mood, and function in meaningful ways. The lesson carries over to celiac disease in two practical ways. First, a gluten-free plan can still follow Mediterranean-style principles that are rich in fiber, healthy fats, and a rainbow of plants, which support lower inflammation and better metabolic health. Second, routine physical activity remains one of the most reliable tools for energy, sleep, and emotional balance in any chronic condition. In short, even when medical therapy is essential, everyday food and movement choices can lift quality of life. For anyone who must avoid gluten, it is reassuring to know that a well-planned gluten-free version of a Mediterranean-style pattern pairs naturally with the movement habits that this review highlights as most impactful.

Read more at: www.mdpi.com

Celiac.com 02/03/2023 - Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects individuals worldwide. People with multiple sclerosis often have other autoimmune diseases such as hypothyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes, which suggests that there may be common genetic or environmental exposures between multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. 

Epidemiological studies have also shown that individuals with one autoimmune disease have an increased susceptibility to developing another autoimmune disease.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune gluten-sensitive enteropathy that results in small intestinal lesions and malabsorption in affected individuals. Celiac disease develops based on genetic factors and mucosal immune response. 

Almost all individuals with celiac disease have HLA DR3-DQ2 and/or the DR4-DQ8. These HLA class II haplotypes have a strong association with multiple sclerosis. celiac disease is also associated with neurological manifestations and diseases such as ataxia, epilepsy, neuropathy, and multiple sclerosis. However, the exact relationship between celiac disease and multiple sclerosis is not well understood.

In order to evaluate the prevalence of celiac disease in multiple sclerosis cases, two researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search included all relevant studies published up to October 2022. 

The researchers independently searched all databases and also references of included studies. They included cross-sectional studies/case, articles which had been published in the English language, and studies in which the diagnostic criteria were biopsy of the duodenum. They excluded letters to editors, case reports, and RCT studies.

They found a total of 1,113 articles by literature search, and after deleting duplicates, 519 remained. Sixteen articles remained for meta-analysis. A total of 31,418 patients were evaluated and the total number of possible/confirmed cases was 124. Studies were published between 2004 and 2020, and the most published studies were from Italy. Five studies provided information regarding controls.

The pooled rates of this systematic review showed that celiac disease is not common in multiple sclerosis cases. However, the study did have some limitations. There were studies that used serologic evaluation for celiac disease diagnosis which were excluded. 

Additionally, there were no reports from some countries, and the control groups were different; as in some studies, the control group was healthy subjects, and in others, the control group was patients with other diseases except multiple sclerosis. The study authors suggest that larger multicenter studies from numerous countries are needed to fully understand the relationship between celiac disease and multiple sclerosis.

It is important to note that while the rates of celiac disease in multiple sclerosis patients may be low, patients with multiple sclerosis still suffer from a wide range of gastrointestinal manifestations such as dysphagia, constipation, and/or fecal incontinence. 

Dyspeptic symptoms and associated pain are also common in multiple sclerosis cases, which can negatively affect quality of life and interfere with daily activities. Because of this, it's important for doctors to be aware of the potential for these symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients, and to consider a range of possible causes.

Read more in the American Journal of Gastroenterology

Celiac.com 01/08/2020 - Researchers currently don't have much good information on the frequency of hypogammaglobulinemia (Ig deficiency) in people with multiple sclerosis. A team of researchers recently set out to assess the frequency of reduced immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations and its association with immunotherapy and disease course in two independent multiple sclerosis study groups.

The research team included Greta Zoehner, Andrei Miclea, Anke Salmen, Nicole Kamber, Lara Diem, Christoph Friedli, Maud Bagnoud, Farhad Ahmadi, Myriam Briner, Nazanin Sédille-Mostafaie, Constantinos Kilidireas, Leonidas Stefanis, Andrew Chan, Robert Hoepner, and Maria Eleftheria Evangelopoulos.

The team's retrospective cross-sectional study included multiple sclerosis patients and control patients with head or neck pain from Bern University Hospital in Bern, and Eginition University Hospital in Athens. 

The lower limits of normal (LLN) for serum Ig concentration were IgG < 700 mg/dl, IgM < 40 mg/dl, and IgA < 70 mg/dl. The team analyzed the results using the Mann–Whitney U test, analysis of variance test, and multiple linear regression.

The study shows that multiple sclerosis patients have high rates of reduced serum IgG concentrations, both with and without disease-modifying treatments.  Interestingly, in patients with other autoimmune diseases, Ig deficiency is also more prevalent, and 1.7% of patients with celiac disease and 5.2% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus also have IgA deficiency.

Given that infections or interference with antibody production usually happen at much lower IgG levels, around 400 mg/dl, and below, the importance of lower IgG concentrations at the levels noted remains unknown.

The team suggests using the information to monitor IgG levels, particularly with anti-B-cell therapies, and considering IgG substitution at levels below 400 mg/dl.

Read more in Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders

The researchers are variously affiliated with the Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; the University Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; the Center of Laboratory Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; the Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; and the Department of Neurology, Eginition University Hospital at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Celiac.com 08/23/2019 - A team of researchers recently set out to use experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as a model for better understanding multiple sclerosis.

The research team included Naresha Saligrama, Fan Zhao, Michael J. Sikora, William S. Serratelli, Ricardo A. Fernandes, David M. Louis, Winnie Yao, Xuhuai Ji, Juliana Idoyaga, Vinit B. Mahajan, Lars M. Steinmetz, Yueh-Hsiu Chien, Stephen L. Hauser, Jorge R. Oksenberg, K. Christopher Garcia & Mark M. Davis.

The team showed that induction triggers successive waves of clonally expanded CD4+, CD8+ and γδ+ T cells in the blood and central nervous system, similar to gluten-challenges in patients with celiac disease. 

The team also found major expansions of CD8+ T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis. In patients with autoimmune encephalomyelitis, they discovered that most expanded CD4+ T cells are specific for the inducing myelin peptide MOG35–55. 

By contrast, surrogate peptides derived from a yeast peptide major histocompatibility complex library of some of the clonally expanded CD8+ T cells inhibit disease by suppressing the proliferation of MOG-specific CD4+ T cells. 

These results suggest that the induction of auto-reactive CD4+ T cells triggers an opposing mobilization of regulatory CD8+ T cells, and according to the researchers: "These results suggest that the induction of autoreactive CD4+ T cells triggers an opposing mobilization of regulatory CD8+ T cells...(W)e show here that the simultaneous mobilization of oligoclonal T cells, seen previously in patients with celiac disease, has a parallel not only in EAE, but also to some extent in newly diagnosed patients with MS."

Read more in Nature.com

The researchers are variously affiliated with the Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; the Department of Neurology and UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; and the Institute of Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.

Celiac.com 03/25/2019 - Some researchers have suspected that myelin proteins may be involved in multiple sclerosis (MS). A recent report in Science and Translational Medicine, suggests that additional non-myelin-related protein may also play a role. Researchers examined protein samples from the brains of 31 people who had died from suspected or confirmed MS. They found that T cells from 12 people reacted to the enzyme guanosine diphosphate-L-fucose synthase, or GDP-L-fucose-synthase. The enzyme usually helps to process sugars that are crucial to cell function and communication, including the function and communication of neurons.

Researcher Dr Roland Martin, from the University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland, has helped to figure out which myelin proteins and peptides come under attack in MS, and which cells and immune molecules do the attacking. Paper coauthor Mireia Sospedra, of University Hospital of Zurich, suggests that “other auto-antigens might be involved in initiating the disease." She believes that the attack on this newly identified auto-antigen triggers tissue damage that exposes other myelin proteins that are likely targets for attack.

Sospedra suspects that some variations in myelin protein structure might be susceptible to immune attack, and that genetic variation in immune cells might influence the body’s response to a given infection. She suggests that the offending antigens may differ between individuals, as the structure of our molecular machinery is genetically determined. 

Northwestern University immunology professor Stephen Miller, who did not work on this research, but has worked with Dr. Martin in the past, suggests that there’s likely not just “one particular virus or bacteria or environmental factor that triggers MS in every patient. There are probably many things that can trigger an autoimmune reaction against a particular infection," he says. "But the more antigens we identify that can contribute to the disease, the better."

Researchers have pointed out that numerous autoimmune diseases seem to cluster in certain gene sequences. Multiple gene areas seem to correlate with numerous autoimmune conditions. Prior comprehensive genetic association studies have found 90 genetic areas associated with T1DM, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, and/or rheumatoid arthritis.

Celiac disease and MS sufferers share some things in common, including a tendency to develop rosacea. Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin condition that shares the same genetic risk location as autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and celiac disease. The connections between multiple sclerosis and celiac disease is a common topic of discussions on many forums.

Read more at: medscape.com

Celiac.com 08/30/2017 - The human gut is home to a huge and diverse number of microorganisms that perform various biological roles. Disturbances in a healthy gut microbiome might help to trigger various inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Human gut-derived commensal bacteria suppress CNS inflammatory and demyelinating disease. Can they improve the treatment of multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

A team of researchers recently set out to evaluate evidence that gut commensals may be used to regulate a systemic immune response and may, therefore, have a possible role in treatment strategies for multiple Sclerosis.

The research team included Ashutosh Mangalam, Shailesh K. Shahi, David Luckey, Melissa Karau, Eric Marietta, Ningling Luo, Rok Seon Choung, Josephine Ju, Ramakrishna Sompallae, Katherine Gibson-Corley, Robin Patel, Moses Rodriguez, Chella David, Veena Taneja, and Joseph Murray.

In a recent article, the team reports on their identification of human gut-derived commensal bacteria, Prevotella histicola, which can suppress experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II transgenic mouse model.

P. histicola suppresses disease through the modulation of systemic immune reactions. P. histicola challenge caused a reduction in pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 cells and an increase in CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells, tolerogenic dendritic cells, and suppressive macrophages.

This study indicates that gut commensals may regulate a systemic immune response, and so may have a role in future treatments for multiple Sclerosis, and possibly other autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease.

Source:

• Cell.com. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.07.031

For the study, a research team led by Dr. Luis Rodrigo of University Hospital, Central Asturias, Spain looked at rates of serological, genetic, and histological disease markers in 72 multiple sclerosis patients and 126 of their first-degree relatives. They then compared the results against data from 123 healthy control subjects.

The team found rates of celiac disease among multiple sclerosis patients that are 5 to 10 times higher than rates for the general population worldwide, which average between 1% and 2%.

The team found similar levels of  HLA-DQ2 markers in both multiple sclerosis patients (29%) and controls (26%) (NS). They found eight multiple sclerosis patients (11.1%) who showed mild or moderate villous atrophy (Marsh III type) on duodenal biopsy. Results also showed that 26 of 126 first-degree relatives (32%) had celiac disease.

Multiple Sclerosis patients also displayed increased frequency of circulating auto-antibodies such as anti-TPO in 19 (26%), ANA in 11 (15%) and AMA in 2 (3%).

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link

The study team included Luis Rodrigo, Carlos Hernández-Lahoz, Dolores Fuentes, Noemí Alvarez, Antonio López-Vázquez, and Segundo González.

They are affiliated variously with the departments of Gastroenterology, Immunology Services and Neurology at the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA) in Oviedo, Spain.

For the study, the team analyzed the prevalence of serological, histological and genetic celiac disease markers in 72 MS patients and 126 of their first-degree relatives. They then compared their results with data from 123 healthy control subjects.

The results showed 7 MS patients (10%) with positive screens for tissue IgA-anti-transglutaminase-2 antibodies, compared with just 3 positive screens for healthy controls (2.4%) (p < 0.05). OR: 5.33 (CI-95%: 1.074-26.425).

The team found no difference in HLA-DQ2 markers between MS patients (29%) and controls (26%) (NS). The team found 8 MS patients (11.1%) with mild or moderate villous atrophy (Marsh III type) in duodenal biopsies. Results also showed celiac disease in 23 of 126 first-degree relatives (32%).

The data showed several other associated diseases, especially dermatitis 41 (57%) and iron deficiency anemia in 28 (39%) MS patients.

MS patients also showed increased frequency of circulating auto-antibodies such as anti-TPO in 19 (26%), ANA in 11 (15%) and AMA in 2 (3%).

The increased prevalence of celiac disease in MS patients and in their first-degree relatives suggests that early detection and dietary treatment of celiac disease in antibody-positive MS patients is advisable.

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link

The following research was compiled by Don Wiss and posted on the Celiac Listserv news group:

The MS/gluten/casein connection is mostly only anecdotal as it has never really been studied. This is what I have (much contributed by Ron Hoggan):

(1) Roger MacDougall was a famous British playwright, who was diagnosed with MS in the 1950s. The doctors felt it was best to keep the information from him. They thought it was in his best interests not to tell him what he had. It was not until he was bedridden that he learned what illness he had. When he knew about it, he did some reading, and went on a gluten & casein free diet. He recovered almost totally. This is from Can a Gluten-Free Diet Help? How? by Lloyd Rosenvold, M.D., [Keats Publishing, 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT 06840-0876, 1992, ISBN 0-87983-538-9]. MacDougall eventually wrote a pamphlet titled My Fight Against Multiple Sclerosis, pub 1980 by Regenics Inc, Mansfield, Ohio. Rosenvold also includes some other anecdotes in his book.

(2) In the Oct. 5, 1974, Lancet, Dr. Norman A. Mathesons letter Multiple Sclerosis and Diet was published on p. 831, wherein he outlined his having been diagnosed with MS and subsequently reading Roger MacDougalls story. He then described his return to good health and ended with: I thank Roger MacDougall, whose diet made it possible to carry out these observations.

(3) Ashton Embry has written an article MS - probable cause and best-bet treatment in which he discusses the dietary and food allergy links to MS.

(4) In Gluten Intolerance by Beatrice Trum Hunter, Keats Publishing Inc. New Canaan, CT. ISBN 0-87983435-8 She talks about a Dr. R. Shatin in Australia who has suggested that an inherited susceptibility to multiple sclerosis is from a primary lesion in the small intestine resulting from gluten intolerance, and that the demyelination is secondary. Shatin suggested that the high incidence of multiple sclerosis in Canada, Scotland and western Ireland may be related to the predominant consumption of Canadian hard wheat, which has the highest gluten content of all wheat varieties. In contrast, the incidence of multiple sclerosis is low among indigenous Equatorial Africans who mainly consume non-gluten containing grains such as millet.

(5) In Multiple Sclerosis, by Jan de Vries, Mainstream Publishing, (Thorntons?) UK it recommends absolutely no gluten and very high reduction of dairy products, refined sugar, and saturated fats. He says that one of his most successful case studies, confirm that absolutely not one pinch if flour i.e. absolutely no gluten at all... otherwise you are deceiving yourself.

(6) According to Dr. Joe Murray at the University of Iowa there is the possibility that the MS patient suffers from a neurological complication of undiagnosed celiac disease. About 5% of celiac patients get nerve damage that can vary from tingling and numbness in the feet to confusion, memory loss, dizziness and loss of balance, visual abnormalities. This sometimes happen in the absence of GI symptoms.

(7) Lutz, W.J., The Colonization of Europe and Our Western Diseases, Medical Hypotheses, Vol. 45, pages 115-120, 1995

Dr. Lutz argues that there is a clear, inverse relationship between civilisatory diseases and the length of time the people of a given region of Europe have had to adapt to the high carbohydrate diet associated with the cultivation of cereal grains that was begun in the Near East, and spread very slowly through Europe.

I quote from the first page of the article:

In over thirty years of clinical practice, I have found, as published in numerous papers and several books (3, 4), that diet works well against Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, heart failure, acne and other problems.

Don Wiss can e-mail a copy of the article text to those requesting.

(8) There is a fellow named Dave Q that has recovered with a gluten-free diet and lots of supplements. He discusses this, along with other recovery stories.

(9) There is supposedly a newsgroup for those interested in Natural Recovery of MS. Its alt.support.mult-sclerosis.alternatives. Ask your system administrator to add it if you cant find it. But it seems to be hard to find.

(10) A page on Milk and MS is from the Carbondale Center for Macrobiotic Studies and blames dairy for the distribution of MS. Visit: Open Original Shared Link

(11) The following is a list of articles in medical journals, which were published at about the time that prednisone became popular in the treatment of MS. They appear to connect MS with celiac-like intestinal morphology.

• Cook, Gupta, Pertschuk, Nidzgorski Multiple Sclerosis and Malabsorption Lancet; June 24, 1978, p. 1366
• Fantelli, Mitsumoto & Sebek Multiple Sclerosis and Malabsorption Lancet May 13, 1978 p. 1039-1040
• Davison, Humphrey, Livesedge et al. Multiple Sclerosis Research Elsevier Scientific Publishing New York, 1975

I find it curious that the connection between malabsorption and MS stopped at about the same time that prednisone and other such steroids became the treatment of choice for MS. As Im sure you know, prednisone incites the re-growth of the villi despite the ingestion of gluten, in the celiac gut. Investigators who did endoscopies on MS patients admit that they have not asked about the patients use of such drugs.

(12) Some literature from the celiac view point:

• Drs. Cooke & Holmes in Celiac Disease 1984; Churchill Livingstone, NY say that 10% of celiacs have neuropathic symptoms. Many appear to be associated with demyelination. Fineli et. al. echo that figure in Adult celiac disease presenting as cerebellar syndrome Neurology 1980; 30: 245-249.
• Cooke & Holmes come right out and express some of their frustration with neurologists for ignoring the potiential for neuropathic celiac.
• A new school has emerged, on the heels of the following report:
• Hadjivassiliou, et. al. Does cryptic gluten sensitivity play a part in neurological illness? Lancet 1996; 347: 369-371
• They found that 57 percent of those with neurological problems of unknown cause also had antibodies to gliadin, which is a component of gluten. Sixteen percent of them had celiac disease, a much higher level than normally found. Most of the patients with the anti-gliadin antibodies did not have other symptoms of celiac disease such as poor absorption of vitamins.

(13) There is supposedly a book on MS written by a Greg Nooney, a fellow that has cured himself with a gluten-free diet. He may be in Colorado.