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  • Scott Adams
    Scott Adams

    Celiac Disease and Fibromyalgia: How Gluten Might Worsen Chronic Pain

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Since celiac disease and fibromyalgia share many similar symptoms, recognizing the potential for co-occurrence could lead to earlier diagnoses and more effective treatments.

    Celiac Disease and Fibromyalgia: How Gluten Might Worsen Chronic Pain - lost in Paris by nosha is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
    Caption:
    lost in Paris by nosha is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

    Celiac.com 10/16/2024 - Celiac disease and fibromyalgia are two medical conditions that affect a significant number of people worldwide. While celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Despite being distinct conditions, celiac disease and fibromyalgia share similar symptoms, such as fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and muscle pain. This study aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between the two conditions, focusing on whether individuals with celiac disease are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.

    Celiac Disease Overview

    Celiac disease is a disorder that causes the immune system to react negatively to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When people with celiac disease consume gluten, their immune system attacks the small intestine, causing damage and preventing the absorption of nutrients. Celiac disease affects roughly 1% of the population, though it is more common in certain genetic groups. Symptoms of celiac disease vary and can include gastrointestinal distress, anemia, osteoporosis, skin conditions, and neurological symptoms.

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    In many cases, people with celiac disease experience symptoms beyond the digestive tract. These extraintestinal manifestations, such as joint pain, chronic fatigue, and depression, can often resemble fibromyalgia symptoms, making it difficult to differentiate between the two conditions.

    Fibromyalgia Overview

    Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects the musculoskeletal system and causes widespread pain, tenderness, and fatigue. It is estimated that fibromyalgia affects 2-5% of the population, predominantly women. Common symptoms of fibromyalgia include pain, morning stiffness, non-restorative sleep, and cognitive difficulties, often referred to as "fibro fog."

    Interestingly, many people with fibromyalgia also experience gastrointestinal issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome, which further blurs the line between the two conditions. This has led researchers to explore whether there is a deeper connection between fibromyalgia and other autoimmune disorders, such as celiac disease.

    Study Design and Methods

    This cross-sectional study examined 60 adult patients diagnosed with celiac disease based on criteria established by the American College of Gastroenterology. The study participants were evaluated for fibromyalgia symptoms using a series of diagnostic tools, including the Widespread Pain Index, the Symptom Severity Scale, and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. These tools measure both the presence and severity of fibromyalgia in individuals.

    The study sought to determine whether there was a significant correlation between the presence of celiac disease and the development of fibromyalgia. The researchers also analyzed the relationship between specific celiac disease biomarkers, such as tissue transglutaminase antibodies and endomysium antibodies, and the likelihood of developing fibromyalgia.

    Results and Findings

    The study found no significant relationship between the clinical presentation of celiac disease and the likelihood of developing fibromyalgia. Similarly, the results showed no correlation between the severity of celiac disease and the presence of fibromyalgia. However, the study did find that individuals with positive antibody tests, such as tissue transglutaminase antibodies, were more likely to have fibromyalgia compared to those who did not test positive for these antibodies. This suggests that the immune response triggered by gluten in celiac disease may play a role in the development of fibromyalgia.

    Although the findings were not statistically significant in some areas, the study highlights the importance of recognizing the overlap between celiac disease and fibromyalgia symptoms. Given that both conditions share many similar symptoms, patients with celiac disease who experience extraintestinal manifestations, such as chronic pain and fatigue, may benefit from being evaluated for fibromyalgia.

    Discussion and Implications

    The potential link between celiac disease and fibromyalgia raises important questions for healthcare providers. Currently, the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is often made through exclusion, meaning that other conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, must be ruled out first. However, this study suggests that individuals with celiac disease, particularly those with positive antibody tests, may be more prone to developing fibromyalgia.

    The immune system's response to gluten in individuals with celiac disease could trigger or exacerbate the chronic pain and sensitivity seen in fibromyalgia. This connection suggests that treating one condition may help alleviate symptoms of the other. For instance, maintaining a strict gluten-free diet may not only improve gastrointestinal symptoms but also reduce the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms in celiac patients.

    Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for both conditions. Since fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to treat, identifying patients with celiac disease who may also have fibromyalgia could allow for more targeted therapies. Simultaneously managing the gastrointestinal symptoms of celiac disease and the musculoskeletal pain of fibromyalgia may lead to better overall outcomes for patients.

    Conclusion: What This Means for People with Celiac Disease

    This study's findings are particularly meaningful for individuals with celiac disease. Since celiac disease and fibromyalgia share many similar symptoms, recognizing the potential for co-occurrence could lead to earlier diagnoses and more effective treatments. For those with celiac disease, staying vigilant about extraintestinal symptoms, such as chronic pain, fatigue, and depression, may help detect fibromyalgia earlier. By working closely with healthcare providers to manage both conditions, people with celiac disease can achieve better symptom control and overall quality of life.

    The study also highlights the need for further research to explore the connection between these two conditions. While the results are not definitive, they provide a starting point for future studies that could lead to more comprehensive treatment approaches for individuals affected by both celiac disease and fibromyalgia.

    Read more at: hcplive.com


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    KIM BURTSFIELD

    I have had fibromyalgia for years, and thanks to my certified massage therapist and delayed food sensitivity testing, my fibromyalgia symptoms decreased dramatically after finding out I have gluten sensitivities.  Even for those of us who are not celiac, a gluten free diet can change our lives for the better. 

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    trents
    35 minutes ago, KIM BURTSFIELD said:

    I have had fibromyalgia for years, and thanks to my certified massage therapist and delayed food sensitivity testing, my fibromyalgia symptoms decreased dramatically after finding out I have gluten sensitivities.  Even for those of us who are not celiac, a gluten free diet can change our lives for the better. 

    Delayed food sensitivity testing? Does that mean the testing itself was delayed or that testing was designed to detect delayed food sensitivity reactions?

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    Wheatwacked

    Before GFD I took 30-60 milligrams of prednisone to function with my fibromyagia.

    After GFD the fibromyagia is gone.

    No gluten is good gluten.

      If you feel better by not eating gluten, and don't have a diagnostic of Celiac Disease, then you have Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity.

    If you feel better without gluten, why go back to it?  Consider that Gluten triggers the release of gluteomorphin, an opioid that activates the same receptors in the brain as prescription pain pills and heroin. It is very addictive.

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    imdoodah331

    I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 1996, after years of unexplained symptoms.  It took five years of many negative test results before I was finally referred to a rheumatologist in Pittsburg who diagnosed Fibromyalgia.  Treatments for that were minimally successful.  Although I understood Fibro is not a "progressive" illness, I experienced constant new and/or worsening symptoms in spite of trying to do everything right to manage them.  In 2019 I saw a NP who, based on the myriad of my presenting symptoms said she felt strongly that I had Celiac.  She said although she was not aware of any scientific evidence of direct correlation to Fibro, she believed there was a connection.  She also said that in her experience, people with Fibromyalgia who followed a gluten free diet, experienced improvement of many of the Fibro symptoms.  I could not complete the gluten challenge to get a confirmed diagnoses of Celiac.  My own unscientific test was to eliminate all gluten for 4 weeks.  After 2 weeks, I had noticeable improvement with my symptoms and general feeling of well being.  After  the 4 weeks, I intentionally ate a small amount of gluten (1 Cheddar Bay biscuit) and within 30 minutes I was very ill.  It took 3 days of returning to totally non gluten diet before I felt better again.  That was enough for me to never intentionally eat gluten again.  Since then, I have been "accidentally" glutened 3 or 4 times (dining out) and each time getting very sick.  Having a formal diagnoses of Celiac (or definitively ruling it out) would be nice, but for me just experiencing the improvements of following a gluten free diet is enough for now.

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    Scott Adams

    This category on Celiac.com includes research summaries on the studies that have been done on the link between fibromyalgia and celiac disease:
    https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-amp-related-diseases-and-disorders/fibromyalgia-and-celiac-disease/

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  • About Me

    Scott Adams

    Scott Adams was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994, and, due to the nearly total lack of information available at that time, was forced to become an expert on the disease in order to recover. In 1995 he launched the site that later became Celiac.com to help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives.  He is co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of the (formerly paper) newsletter Journal of Gluten Sensitivity. In 1998 he founded The Gluten-Free Mall which he sold in 2014. Celiac.com does not sell any products, and is 100% advertiser supported.


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