New Research: Fibromyalgia helped by Gluten Free Diet?

A lot of people believe the gluten free diet helps them feel better (no matter what the ailment). Recently, researchers wanted to know if the gluten free diet helped celiac folks with fibromyalgia symptoms feel fewer aches and pains.

Gluten Free Diet, Celiac and Fibromylagia

In the study published in BMC Gastroenterology last weekend, doctors set out to see if a gluten free diet helped seven women who had biopsy-proven villous atrophy (flattening of the villi in the small intestine) aka celiac disease, who also were categorized as having severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS).

Before the gluten free diet, doctors report all patients had poor quality of life and Visual Analog Scale (for gastrointestinal complaints, pain, tiredness) results, plus increased tissue-Trans-Glutaminase (tTG) levels (a blood test for celiac).

One year after the gluten free diet all measures improved significantly and the tTG levels decreased to a normal value.

Researchers admit more investigation is needed here, but they found adherence to a gluten-free diet is key to improve symptoms that go along with celiac, IBS/FMS symptoms.

This latest research adds support to the idea that celiac and fibromyalgia could go hand-in-hand in some cases.  We talked about it a few years back in an article right here on The Savvy Celiac.

*Note: I am not a doctor or a medical professional of any sort.  If you are concerned about celiac and/or fibromyalgia impacting your life, see your doctor before going gluten free to ensure test results will be accurate.

Tags: autoimmune, celiac, disease, disorder, fibromyalgia, gluten-free