Coeliac And Cardio Vascular Disease

[Aileen Cregan]

I have been a Coeliac for many years and coped really well, but in 2022 I was diagnosed with High blood pressure and still on medication, I have now been advised that Coeliac's are more prone to Cardio Vascular disease has anyone else experienced this?

[cristiana]

Hi @Aileen Cregan and welcome to the forum.

Looking at the time of day you have posted this, and also your spelling of 'coeliac' i.e. with an 'o', may I hazard a guess that you are in the UK?  I live in England and I too have been told something similar to you.  Here are a couple of posts on the Coeliac UK website which might be an interesting read:

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/news/media-today-on-heart-disease-and-gluten-free/#:~:text=The study reports that people,identifies more research is needed.

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/news/new-study-finds-association-between-coeliac-and-cardiovascular-disease/

Around the time I had my children, I became anemic.  Looking back, this was when my coeliac disease started to cause symptoms.  From that time forward I started to suffer from 'white coat syndrome' when in a medical setting and continue to do so.  Although when rested and at home my blood pressure is normal, what is interesting is that 'white coat syndrome' is now thought by some to be a predictor of issues in the future.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/white-coat-hypertension/faq-20057792

I take the view that what we all need to do is ensure we are getting all the right vitamins and minerals, eat as many wholefoods as we can vs. processed, keep physically active, and try to keep our weight within the normal BMI zone.   Are you within that range?  A family member who is a doctor says he will not even think of taking a patient off blood pressure tablets until they are back in range.  Which makes me think I need to go on a diet as this is the first time in my life that my BMI is as high as it is.  Life has happened, as they say, and I've eaten too many gluten-free snacks, which I've notice often tend to contain more sugar and fat then their glutenous equivalents!

 

Edited yesterday at 02:35 PM by cristiana

[Scott Adams]

Yes, there does seem to be some evidence that people with celiac disease can have a higher risk of cardiovascular problems, especially if inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or other autoimmune issues are involved, but it certainly does not mean everyone with celiac disease will develop heart disease. High blood pressure is also very common in the general population, so your diagnosis may or may not be directly related to your celiac disease. You are definitely not alone in wondering about the connection, and it is a good idea to keep on top of your blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, and follow-up care while staying strictly gluten-free.

We have summarized various research on heart conditions associated with celiac disease in this category:

https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-amp-related-diseases-and-disorders/heart-failure-and-celiac-disease/

[trents]

@Aileen Cregan, may I ask, what blood pressure med are you on? There is one that blunts the small bowel villi like gluten does. It is olmesartan.

[Aileen Cregan]

Good afternoon All.

Thank you for information that has been sent, it is very informative, In response to Trent's question my medication is Indapamide.

[knitty kitty]

@Aileen Cregan,

I was put on high blood pressure medication, too. But I was able to correct my high blood pressure by supplementing with Thiamine Vitamin B 1.  I am no longer on high blood pressure medication.  I feel much better without the medication. I continue to supplement Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine.  

The particular high blood pressure medication I took was Norvasc (amlodipine), which causes thiamine deficiency by blocking thiamine transporters so that thiamine cannot enter cells.  Benfotiamine can get into cells by merging with the cell membrane, thus bypassing nonfunctional thiamine transporters.  

Indapamide also blocks thiamine transporters!

The use of this type of medications that block thiamine precipitated Wernickes Encephalopathy.  My doctors did not recognize the connection to Thiamine deficiency.  I nearly died.  

Talk to your doctor and dietician about supplementing with Benfotiamine, a fat soluble form of thiamine that bypasses thiamine transporters.  Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity Assay to check your thiamine levels asap.  Routine blood tests for thiamine are not an accurate measure of  thiamine in the body.  

Absorption of essential vitamins like Thiamine is altered in Celiac Disease due to damaged villi, inflammation and dysbiosis.  The Gluten Free diet can be lacking in vitamins and minerals.  Discuss supplementing with all the eight B vitamins,  the four fat soluble vitamins and necessary minerals.

Please keep us posted on your progress!

References:

Drug-nutrient interactions: discovering prescription drug inhibitors of the thiamine transporter ThTR-2 (SLC19A3)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31764942/

The Pivotal Role of Thiamine Supplementation in Counteracting Cardiometabolic Dysfunctions Associated with Thiamine Deficiency

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11988323/