Multiple sclerosis and celiac disease are both disorders in which the autoimmune system mistakenly perceives its own tissue as a threat and launches an attack. With MS, the assault is directed at the myelin sheath, the protective covering for nerves in the brain and spinal cord. With celiac disease, the lining of the small intestine comes under fire whenever foods containing gluten, proteins found in wheat, barley and rye, are consumed. Scientific studies have shown that celiac disease occurs much more frequently in people with MS than in the general population, leading to speculation that a gluten-free diet might help relieve MS symptoms.
Similarities and Differences
Celiac disease affects about 1 percent of the population, although other forms of gluten intolerance affect an additional 10 percent. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Research Center at the University of California, Irvine, about 2.5 million people worldwide, and 400,000 Americans, have MS. Celiac disease can be detected by the presence of signature antibodies in the blood, but, as yet, no blood or lab tests exist for MS. People with MS must take powerful drugs to slow the progression of the disease and control symptoms, so if a gluten-free diet does help relieve MS symptoms, it would have enormous appeal.
Genetic Factors
"MS results from complex interactions between an individual's genetics and his or her environment," says neurologist Michael Demetriou, associate director of the MS research center at UC-Irvine. Scientists know that celiac disease occurs in people with MS more often than in the general population, suggesting some degree of common genetic ground. An Israeli study published in September 2009 in "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences" reported screening 98 MS patients for the antibodies indicating active celiac disease. Of those, 11 tested positive, a finding the researchers deemed "highly significant." A Spanish study published on March 7, 2011, in "BMC Neurology" came up with almost identical results: 11 percent of their MS patients tested positive for celiac disease.
VIP: A Very Important Peptide
A chemical messenger called vasoactive intestinal peptide, or VIP, may prove to be the missing link between autoimmune-mediated neurological and digestive diseases. Secreted by neurons in the brain as well as the lining of the small intestine, VIP is believed to play a powerful peacemaking role, soothing inflamed tissue throughout its sphere of influence. According to a study published in "Pharmacological Reviews" in June 2004, VIP brokers a wide variety of cellular processes. Some researchers believe that pharmaceuticals with the properties of VIP might prove to be effective for treating MS, celiac disease and many other autoimmune disorders, but none are on the market as of 2011.
Gluten-Free Diet for MS
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America takes a generally dim view of unproven diets -- with or without gluten -- that stray from recommendations put forward by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. People with MS "seeking a possible alternative treatment may make decisions that are not always based on sound nutritional recommendations," the organization's website cautions. The USDA's MyPlate diet plan, which replaced the Food Pyramid on May 31, 2011, is customized according to height, weight, age and level of physical activity. It advocates that people consuming 2,000 calories a day eat 6 ounces of grains, half consisting of whole grains. The association also emphasizes that people should always seek a doctor's advice before making dietary changes.
References
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences"; Gluten Sensitivity in Multiple Sclerosis; D.B. Shor et al.; September 2009
- Medline Plus; Multiple Sclerosis; Aug. 5, 2010
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center -- University of Calfornia at Irvine: About Multiple Sclerosis
- "Pharmacological Reviews"; The Significance of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in Immunomodulation; M. Delgado et al.; June 2004
- "BMC Neurology"; Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Multiple Sclerosis; L. Rodrigo et al.; March 7, 2011
- Multiple Sclerosis Association of America; Healthcare Beyond MS; Susan Wells Courtney
