Liver Functions Linked To Gluten?

[SasaMinks]

Hello!

 

I had my blood tests back today and they are fine BUT doc says liver function is abnormal at 74 - given that I have lots of other symptoms could this mean I could have celiac still? or is it more likely just NCGI? I've been gluten-free for a week now and have noticed more energy/less bloating and less brain fog.  If I stop eating gluten and my liver level goes back to normal when they re-test (in two weeks) would that mean it was just a glitch in the blood tests? or proof of a gluten problem?

 

Please advise!!!

[Sugardale]

I am in the same boat.

 

I don't have insurance so I've been going to health clinics. Having diarrhea for about a month and losing weight finally prompted a visit. The clinic tested my blood, and that showed that my liver levels were off too. The nurse thought it could be celiac and that I should start gluten free. I did for 5 days. There really was no change, except that I started to have blood in my stool. Went back to the clinic, saw a different nurse who thought it probably wasn't celiac, she did a load of new tests including a stool sample that required eating a lot of fiber, so I started eating whole wheat breads and other high fiber, full of gluten foods. Did not feel any better. I was also tested for Hepatitis A, B, and C (all negative). After I finished the stool sample, I decided to try gluten free again. I've been gluten free for 17 days now, and I am feeling so much better! I only have about 2-3 bowel movements a day, and they are looking healthier. I am happier, and way more energetic. I haven't gained back any of the 10 pounds I've lost yet, but I haven't lost any more, which is a good sign.

 

Now, I am thinking do I have celiac disease? My body is responding to a gluten free diet, but is it a fluke?  I am hoping to qualify for free health insurance so I can see a specialist and get a confirmation, but until then I'm going to stay gluten free.

 

I hope that you get a confimation as well.

[ravenwoodglass]

Yes celiac seems to be able to effect liver function. Many  of us see those levels go back to normal after being gluten free for a while.

Sugardale, if you are planning on testing for celiac do get back on gluten pronto. You need to be on a regular gluten diet or the tests will come back a false negative. Even on gluten the tests can be false negative so in the long run it is how you react to the gluten free diet, and to gluten when it is added back in that counts the most.

[jerseyangel]

Celiac can most definitely affect liver function/numbers. 8 years after diagnosis, mine still fluctuate between well within normal and very slightly high.

I've had the full compliment of testing and nothing shows up.

[SasaMinks]

Sugerdale - that's interesting... It sounds like maybe you didn't gibe it enough tine the first time? I read that withdrawel from gluten can make too feel even worse at first and for me I certainly felt worse foe a day or two. 8days in and I feel like a new person - less bloating/more energy/reduced migraine attacks.

I wonder if anyone has a view on whether the liver function issues would mean it is celiac rather then ncgi? Ravenglass - after all those negative blood results how did you get the celiac diagnosis?

[Deaminated Marcus]

I was diagnosed with a fatty liver in 2010.

Then I went gluten free for 2 years 

The subsequent ultrasounds no longer detected fatty liver.

I can't prove going gluten free cured my fatty liver but here are some articles that say it does.

 

Open Original Shared Link

[ravenwoodglass]

Sugerdale - that's interesting... It sounds like maybe you didn't gibe it enough tine the first time? I read that withdrawel from gluten can make too feel even worse at first and for me I certainly felt worse foe a day or two. 8days in and I feel like a new person - less bloating/more energy/reduced migraine attacks.

I wonder if anyone has a view on whether the liver function issues would mean it is celiac rather then ncgi? Ravenglass - after all those negative blood results how did you get the celiac diagnosis?

I was seeing a physical therapist who kept insisting that I see an allergist who would deal with intolerances as well as true allergies. After she nagged me for a couple months saying she was sure something autoimmune was going on I finally made the effort to find one. Not easy. He tested me for true allergies. I was positive for 98 out of 99 things tested for. He later said that was his first clue I was celiac. He then put me on a strict elimination diet starting with 5 foods I hated and almost never ate. I had to eat just those until my daily and nightly D resolve. That took a couple weeks. Then I was allowed to add in one food at a time consuming it 3 times a day for a week. Wheat was the second thing I added in  3 days later my reaction was severe. He ordered me to stop the wheat and never eat it again and refered me to a GI doctor who of course put me on a gluten challenge. The reaction to that was even more severe and resulted in a nasty GI bleed. I then got my official diagnosis of celiac. One thing I found interesting was after I had been gluten-free for 6 months I was able to convince my family to get tested. Both of my kids were positive on blood tests and one had the endo which was also positive. I don't know if I would show positive with the newer blood tests they do now. I am not about to do a challenge to find out as my reactions are severe and I have permanent damage to some organs due to the length of time it took for them to diagnose me.

[GFinDC]

The reason I read for possible liver issues is toxins released into the body by dying cells in the intestine.  Dying cells sounds like celiac disease to me.

[SasaMinks]

See I very much agree with this - my doctor is rubbish though and keeps on saying its ibs- although he has put me in for a liver scan and re test of bloods. Should I push for an endoscopy though? Or, if my next lot of bloods show improved liver function, just stick gluten-free rather than having to back on it for an endescopy that might show nothing up and just self diagnose as celiac??

[GFinDC]

See I very much agree with this - my doctor is rubbish though and keeps on saying its ibs- although he has put me in for a liver scan and re test of bloods. Should I push for an endoscopy though? Or, if my next lot of bloods show improved liver function, just stick gluten-free rather than having to back on it for an endescopy that might show nothing up and just self diagnose as celiac??

 

Personally,I had more than enough of being sick and trying to work a full time job.  So I got off gluten and stayed off it.  Except for a few slip-ups during the learning phase and some accidental glutenings or cc..  I think it is probably easier for people with obvious gluten related symptoms to stay off gluten without a diagnosis.  At least it seems to me it would be.  If I was still eating gluten at the time of my doctor appointment, I probably would have done the endoscopy. But I had to wait 3 months to see the doctor, and went off gluten during the wait.  I think it's better to know for sure, If it is possible.  In my case, I had significant symptom changes after going gluten-free so it was obvious to me that gluten was a real problem.

 

If you can stick with the gluten-free diet, then you can stick with the diet.  A doctor's permission is not needed.

[bartfull]

I just saw this on the news. You haven't had any of this stuff, have you? Open Original Shared Link

[SasaMinks]

No - but thanks for the info! I was screened for Hep A B and C when pregnant so not related to that. Pretty sure it's the gluten :-/

[eers03]

My liver enzymes were about the same and dropped significantly over the course of six months on my gluten free diet.