Gluten intolerance gets a lot of press. Almost every major restaurant chain now offers a gluten-free menu, and gluten free foods fly off the shelves at local supermarkets. All of this is for good reason; the symptoms associated with gluten intolerance can be uncomfortable, and in severe cases, life-threatening.
There may be an even more important reason to understand your gluten sensitivity. Research now shows that as many as 10% of people with Celiac disease may have associated peripheral neuropathy. Most commonly, the small nerve fibers of the sensory nervous system are affected. In some cases, the neuropathic symptoms can precede the gastrointestinal symptoms of celiac disease.
In a 2006 study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, researchers looked at 140 patients with idiopathic neuropathy. Positive immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies were found in 34% The prevalence of Celiac disease as shown by biopsy in the idiopathic group was at least 9%. These patients had not previously been diagnosed with Celiac disease.
At US Neuropathy Centers, we explore all of the potential causes of your symptoms to design an effective treatment plan. If you have neuropathic symptoms, call us today!
In patients with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, a gluten free diet may help reduce or eliminate symptoms. However, some patients need additional therapies to experience relief, which may include nutritional supplements or other medications.
If you are suffering from neuropathy, please do not hesitate to call us at any of our US Neuropathy Centers locations. With offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming, our neuropathy experts are easily accessible and here to help.
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
@US Neuropathy Centers, 2018
