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12/06/2021 - Celiac disease is an auto-immune disease that can manifest in numerous ways. A team of researchers recently set out to assess rates of gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-intestinal symptoms of celiac patients, especially headache and migraine, and compare those to a healthy control group. The team compared one thousand celiac subjects, with migraine and non-migrainous headache, registered at their celiac center, against a healthy control group, for headache parameters, in terms of GI and extra-intestinal symptoms. Overall, celiac subjects experienced higher rates of headache than control subjects, with the greatest prevalence in female celiacs. Celiac subjects also showed higher rates of migraine than controls, especially females. In fact 80% of females with celiac disease experienced migraine, and without aura nearly three-quarters of the time. The most common GI symptoms in celiac subjects with headache were abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation, which were all more prevalent in celiac subjects with migraine. Conversely, celiac subjects with migraine saw lower rates of type 1 diabetes mellitus than celiac subjects with non-migrainous headache. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being female, and having celiac disease were independent predictors of headache, whereas patients over 60 years old saw some protective effects. Celiac subjects have higher rates of headache, especially migraine, than healthy control subjects. Moreover, celiac subjects with migraine more commonly experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation than celiac subjects with non-migrainous headaches. Because of this, the team recommends celiac screening for patients with migraine and simultaneous GI symptoms. Read more at PLOS ONE The research team included Mohammad M. Fanaeian, Nazanin Alibeik, Azita Ganji, Hafez Fakheri, Golnaz Ekhlasi, and Bijan Shahbazkhani. They are variously affiliated with the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences inTehran, Iran; the Clinical Research Development Center, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashahd, Iran; the Gut and Liver Research Center, Non-communicable Disease Institue at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Sari, Iran; and the Digestive Disease Research Institute at Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran.

Celiac.com 02/16/2023 - Migraine headaches are a common problem for many people with celiac disease. However, the connection between headaches and celiac disease is not well understood. A study conducted in 2021 compared 1,000 celiac subjects registered at a celiac center with a control group, based on International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition criteria and their gastrointestinal symptoms. The study also compared celiac subjects with migraine and non-migrainous headache in terms of their gastrointestinal symptoms and accompanying conditions. Here's a bit of what they found. More Migraines for Celiacs, Especially Women Researchers comparing rates of headaches, including migraines, among celiac patients and a healthy control group showed that celiac subjects experienced higher rates of headaches than control subjects, with the greatest rates of migraines found in celiac women. Additionally, celiacs had higher rates of migraine than control subjects, especially in women. In fact, four out of five women with celiac disease suffered from migraines, and without aura nearly three-quarters of the time. The most common gut symptoms in celiacs who suffered from headaches were abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation, which were all more common in celiacs with migraines. Lower Rates of Type 1 Diabetes Notably, celiacs with migraines experienced lower rates of type 1 diabetes mellitus than celiac subjects with non-migrainous headaches. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being female and having celiac disease were independent predictors of headaches, whereas patients over 60 years old saw some protective effects. Other recent research has also shed light on gut health and its connection to celiac disease and migraines. Gut-Brain Axis A number of mechanisms proposed to explain the connection focus on the gut-brain axis, including the interplay of chronic inflammation with certain mediators, the control of the intestinal immune environment of the microbiota, and a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The gut-brain axis is a known pathway that can influence neurological illnesses such as migraines. Some data suggests that gut microbiota can influence the brain-gut axis, and may impact nociceptive behavior, and, in turn, brain function. The composition of the gut microbiome, which also plays a significant role in the gut-brain axis, is thought to be one of the main processes connected to migraine, potentially via neurotransmitters, hormones, and inflammatory chemicals originating from the microbiome. However, more research is needed to fully understand the specific aspects of this connection. These findings suggest that celiac disease and migraines may be connected, and that celiac patients are at a higher risk for headaches, especially migraines. Researchers are now recommending that celiac screening be considered for patients with migraines and simultaneous GI symptoms. The findings also highlight the importance of understanding the relationship between celiac disease and migraines, and how it relates to gut health. It also reveals the need for further research to understand the mechanisms behind this connection. Read more at: PLoS One Cureus.com The Journal of Headache and Pain

Celiac.com 10/17/2022 - Headache is one of the main clinical symptoms and complaints of people with celiac disease, and often it manifests as migraine. The roots and origins of migraine as it relates to celiac disease are complex, and still poorly understood. The term 'dysbiosis' refers to a disruption of the microbiome that triggers an imbalance in the gut microbiota, which leads to changes in their functional composition and metabolic activities, or changes to their distribution within the gut microbiome. A team of researchers recently set out to give a narrative summary of the literature on celiac disease's neurological symptoms, particularly migraines, and to assess potential connections with dysbiosis. The research team included Hodan Qasim, Mohamed Nasr, Amad Mohammad, Mosab Hor, and Ahmed M. Baradeiya. They are variously affiliated with theDepartment of Internal Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, SAU; the Ophthalmology, Palestinian Medical Council, Ramallah, PSE; the Department of Ophthalmology, Children Retina Institute, Los Angeles, USA; the department of General Internal Medicine, Mansoura general hospital in Mansoura, Egypt; and the Research center, Fresno clinical research center, Fresno, USA. In an effort to explain the connection, researchers have proposed various mechanisms involving the gut-brain axis, including: the interaction of chronic inflammation with inflammatory and vasoactive mediators; the modulation of the intestinal immune environment of the microbiota; and a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The research article refers to a known gut-brain pathway that can influence neurological illnesses such as migraines. Some data suggests that gut microbiota can influence the brain-gut axis, and may impact nociceptive behavior and brain function A layer of columnar intestinal epithelial cells separates the 100 trillion bacteria present on the gut surface from the host. The key pathophysiological processes connected to migraine are thought to work partly due to the gut microbiota composition, which also plays a significant role in the gut-brain axis. Potential pathways include neurotransmitters, hormones, and inflammatory chemicals originating from the microbiome. However, further research is required to fully understand the basic specific factors which influence the process. The team's review aims to give a narrative summary of the literature on celiac disease's neurological symptoms, particularly migraines, and to assess any potential associations to dysbiosis, an imbalance in the microbiome that may be related to celiac disease. Read more at Cureus.com

Celiac.com 11/01/2019 - When I first went on a gluten free diet my migraines disappeared completely. For five wonderful years, I only felt the twinges of a migraine (or maybe just a blessedly "normal" headache) during those few times when I inadvertently consumed gluten. Another thing also happened once I went on a gluten free diet—I got pregnant. But, five years later, I learned that there could be more than one trigger for my migraines and unfortunately, gluten was only one of them. After two cycles of pregnancy and nursing, my hormones eventually normalized into a regular cycle. Now, that amazed me. For the first time in my life my body had learned to have a 4-week textbook cycle. But along with those cycles came the worst migraines I had ever experienced in my life. I realized, sadly, that gluten wasn't my only migraine trigger. I could avoid gluten, but I couldn't avoid my cycle. The irony of it all struck hard– the gluten free diet had made me healthy enough to have a regular cycle—a regular cycle accompanied by horrific migraines. Once again, I went from doctor to doctor, but this time (unlike the years until my celiac diagnosis) I received a fast diagnosis—menstrual migraine. The neurologist who diagnosed me said that they were probably the worst type of migraine out there—very resistant to medication, fierce in strength, and often lasting for days. He wasn't wrong. Four years of migraines later, I may have tried every migraine treatment known to Woman! I have been searching for a cure for mine. Along the way, many of the things I have tried have worked temporarily. They have also worked for others with more lasting results. Hence this article—why not share what I've learned in the hope that others can be helped? Maybe, in this process, someone out there will know of a treatment that I have not yet tried. Before I go on, I do want to say that staying on the gluten free diet is the only option to having a good life at all—even though it allows the cycles that bring the migraines. Before gluten-free, I was sick all the time with migraines. Now I am much healthier, but do get terrible cyclical migraines. For obvious reasons, I choose the latter. This article focuses on migraine prevention. I have in my cabinet some very expensive, strong prescription triptans (Amerge works the best for me) and these are a necessity…simply because I do not want to land in my local emergency room with a migraine that feels like it's killing me. I think of these prescriptions as my rescue doses—for those times when all my preventive measures fail. I have tried many, many preventative treatments—supplements, herbs, Chinese medicine, bioidentical hormone pills, natural hormone creams, allergy treatments, massage, chiropractic, and even acupuncture. Some people swear by massage and acupuncture. I tried it but did not perceive enough of a benefit to continue—the expense alone was giving me a headache. To date, nothing has taken away my migraines, but the following items have definitely helped. And, the good news is that every item listed is affordable and completely doable!!! Wake up at the same time every day. My neurologist has a beautiful explanation as to why this can prevent a migraine, and it surprisingly has nothing to do with low blood sugar! I cannot remember his eloquent explanation. But, many migraine sufferers will find they get a migraine on their day off—the "Saturday Migraine". Usually, it's from sleeping in and messing up the sensitive sleep/wake cycle. My alarm has one setting—for week days as well as weekends. If I'm tired later in the day from getting up early after a late night (which would usually happen on a weekend), I do my best to take a nap, but I rarely sleep in. B complex. Every migraine guide you read always mentions the B vitamins. As I have already posted, and others have commented, celiacs have low absorption of the B vitamins since the most often damaged portion of the small intestine is where most absorption of Bs occurs. This can be overcome by taking large doses of B vitamins. I finally found a B-complex I can tolerate, and that's Solgar B50. They have a stronger dose, Solgar B100, but the B50 works for me. B2 is often singled out for migraine sufferers, and Solgar makes an isolated B2, but this doesn't work well for me. It may for you, and at under $10, it's certainly worth a try—in fact, I wish I could give you some of my almost-full bottle to try! Magnesium. I've taken magnesium all along, but recently, from a commercial on the celiac website in the migraine section, I read about Magnasorb. (My husband joked with me that purchasing a supplement from an online Ad, was akin to finding a date on the internet, but it does look like this has been a good thing!) The premise behind Magnasorb, is that people with migraines are not absorbing enough magnesium through their digestive systems (sounds like a celiac to me), and that their "patented" formula is the first of its kind to deliver it through the skin. Well, $29 and a few days later, my first bottle arrived, and I must say, I've been quite pleased. It does sting my skin a bit, so I apply it to wet skin, but it has definitely stopped a few days from turning into migraine days these past few weeks. I'm hoping that after a few months of use, the overall benefit will increase. It might work just as well to soak in a bath of Epsom salts every night, and it would certainly be cheaper, but you know, that isn't a "patented" way to increase your magnesium levels!!! Lemon Juice. About three years ago I read a little side article in an educators magazine, of all places, that women in their mid-thirties often start experiencing terrible cyclical headaches. The article blamed this on our western acidic diets and went on to say that one of the best ways to counteract an acidic diet is to squeeze lemon in your water. Now, that made about as much sense to me as nothing—since lemons are acidic themselves, but lemons are cheap—much cheaper than the dozens of supplements I have tried over the years. I have since been told that although they are acidic, their net effect in the body is basic (?!!) but illogical logic aside, I started squeezing lemons into my water that same day and for THREE MONTHS I did not have one migraine. Of course, you have to be careful not to overdo it—too much acid cannot be good for a sensitive stomach. Currently, I consume at least one lemon every day—most people go to the store when they run out of milk, I go when I run out of lemons. I honestly think that at this point in my migraine journey, without "lemon-water" I would have a migraine every day. Vitamin D. I actually break open my vitamin D capsule and rub it on my skin every other day. I know the latest articles are pushing 4000 IU's of vitamin D a day and higher, but if I take that much (orally or transdermally) I get welts on my skin. I showed the welts to a health care practitioner once and he immediately said they were from excess vitamin D. I reduced my dose and find that 2000IU every other day seems to be optimum for me. Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) from Hemp Oil. I think, I hope, I pray that this oil is turning into my own personal magic bullet. A few months ago I purchased some Manitoba Harvest Hemp Oil on the advice of a friend and went 5 weeks without a migraine. I had previously tried a great brand of EPO in the capsule form, but honestly couldn't afford to take it in the doses I required. The Hemp Oil, however, brings you the EPO in a nature-made n-3:n-6:n-9 fatty acid ratio. When I ran out of the Manitoba harvest, I couldn't find it locally, so I bought a different brand and my migraines returned. Frustrated, I gave up on it, until just two weeks ago, when someone I had suggested try it raved on and on how it was helping them with PMS. I finally found my original brand, and have been back on it for 10 days. The difference so far has been amazing! I don't even feel like I could get a migraine at all! Obviously, time will tell, but for now I'll continue to be hopeful. I actually take Nordic Arctic Fish Oil, too, so I mix a little of each and swallow the whole nasty mess. I have friends who mix it in juice or incorporate it into their food but I don't want to ruin the taste of the food I'm eating, so I just take it straight and get it over with. A word of caution—EPO has been known to cause uterine contractions, so do not take it if you are pregnant! Finally, and I will not belabor this point since I have mentioned it in another article, I take Solgar's prenatal multivitamin simply because it's the only multi that I can tolerate. And, I only take half a dose. Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D from Solaray. That's my personal regime. I have come up with it through research, reading, painful trial and error, and much wasting of money. Hopefully one of those items can help you in your quest to become migraine free. As always, I would never try more than one new thing at a time. Our bodies are too sensitive and we need time to gauge our own reactions. Good luck, God bless, and I would love to hear of any of your own personal successes against migraines. Maybe, between all of us, we can beat these things and instead of counting the years until menopause, we can enjoy the intervening years free from gluten AND migraines!!!

Celiac.com 11/26/2018 - Many people with celiac disease suffer from headaches. A team of researchers recently set out to more thoroughly explore the relationship between celiac disease and headaches. The research team included Panagiotis Zis, Thomas Julian, and Marios Hadjivassiliou. They are variously affiliated with the Academic Department of Neurosciences, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK, and the Medical School of the University of Sheffield in Sheffield, UK. The team's goal was to establish the relationship between headaches and celiac disease, and vice versa, to explore the role of a gluten-free diet, and to describe the imaging findings in celiac patients affected by headaches. For their systematic review and meta-analysis, the team reviewed 40 articles published in the the PubMed database between 1987 and 2017. They included information regarding study type, population size, the age group included, prevalence of celiac disease among those with headache and vice versa, imaging results, the nature of headache, and response to gluten-free diet. They found that the average pooled rate of headaches in celiac patients was 26% (95% CI 19.5–33.9%) in adult populations and 18.3% (95% CI 10.4–30.2%) in pediatric populations. The headaches usually resemble migraines. Children with headaches of unknown origin, have celiac disease rates of 2.4% (95% CI 1.5–3.7%). There is presently no good data for adult populations. In such cases, brain imaging can be normal, but can also reveal cerebral calcifications with CT, white matter abnormalities with MRI, and deranged regional cerebral blood flow with SPECT. The good news is that a gluten-free diet seems to be an effective treatment. Up to 75% of celiac patients saw their headaches resolve when they followed a gluten-free diet. Celiac patients have high rates of idiopathic headache (that is, headaches of unknown cause), and patients with such headaches have higher rates of celiac disease. Therefore, patients with headache of unknown origin should be screened for celiac disease, since they may gain symptom relief from a gluten-free diet. Source: Nutrients 2018, 10(10), 1445; doi:10.3390/nu10101445