Gluten, Celiac, and RA

[kageyd]

Star73 responded today (way down one of those long lists) to a discussion of carbohydrates in the diet. Star suggested that gluten might be a factor in causing RA, and he pointed out that going on a very low carbohydrate diet very much helped his RA symptoms. I was intrigued by the suggestion, because some years ago I definitely had a glucose intolerance but was never diagnosed with celiac. I did some looking into the literature this morning, and it seems to me as though gluten sensitivity (or gluten intolerance) does not in and of itself trigger the autoimmune response that full-fledged celiac does, and thus gluten intolerance alone probably would not be an RA initiating trigger.

But, as I learned those years ago, if a person is gluten intolerant, and gives up wheat, rye, barley (in all its forms), then the true diagnostic tests for celiac disease might well come back negative, because the absence of gluten in the diet permits the gut lining to heal itself, and the blood measures also diminish. By experience personally and with some friends, I know that getting a valid diagnosis of celiac is very difficult.

I guess the story as of today is, if you have ever been told you are gluten intolerant, and have given up wheat and the other forms of gluten, you might still actually have the celiac condition and the underlying immune system there might -- that's a big "might" -- be one of the causes of your (and maybe my) RA.

I can't find any definite take home lessons in all this, but it's a fasinating new RA link for me to keep investigating. Star73's observation that a low carbohydrate diet, especially one low in gluten, might - again a big "might" - help your/my RA symptoms.

If any of you find good current info on this subject -- the relation between gluten and RA -- let us know. Thanks. Kageyd

[star73]

hey again! I found your post ! I'm a girl btw...:) Its ok...its hard to know without seeing me! I do believe eliminating gluten has helped some. I wish I could say I am cured! woohoo! BUT, I'm not :( The testing for celiac is really a contraversial subject these days cause they aren't always accurate. Even the biopsies can be wrong if they dont biopsy the exact part of the damage of the small intestines. My sister knows a lady who says her RA is in remission from avoiding gluten. I'm happy for her! I wish it was that easy for me!

Gluten never bothered me as a child but I see that it does cause bloating, diarrhea, swelling, etc now. I'm also overweight so I am just following a low-carb diet to help lose weight since I cant just put on some running shoes and go jogging (darn RA). I really feel better on the low-carb diet.....as far as IBS goes and the sluggish feeling. I still have fatigue and joint pain. Winter is kicking my behind right now! I'm so ready for spring!

[star73]

I dont know what happened to my reply I did here :p! I'm actually female...but thats ok..its hard to know without seeing me! :) I do believe eliminating gluten has helped my energy level though I still have fatigue. I seem to swell when I eat breads, cereals, pasta, etc so I think the excess fluid on my joints is not a good thing. I think in that way, eliminating glutens have helped me. I wish it could be as easy as going into remission but it isn't for me at least. I'm also overweight so low-carbin is helping me to lose weight since I can't just slap on some tennis shoes and go jogging! Eliminating gluten has helped my IBS incredibly so! It will be interesting to hear if others have had good results with it!

[star73]

This is my third attempt to reply to this! I hope I dont end up with three replies. I did clarify about gluten on the other thread. When I said it made me feel better...I really should have detailed what made me feel better. Being off gluten has helped my IBS tremendously! Also, I dont have the fluid retention I did in my face, feet and even in my wrists. Also, I dont have the extreme sluggishness I felt when eating breads, pasta, cereal, etc. So, in that case yeah it did help. But, as far as my RA goes...I still have joint pain and fatigue. A new med has even been added this past week. It would be great if eliminating gluten would put us all into remission but that hasnt happened to me yet. :(

Kageyd...also I am female not male ;) its ok! its hard to know without seeing me!

[kageyd]

Sorry on the gender issue, I replied to I guess your early post that didn't mention it, and I'm a societal victim of the automatic "he" when I don't know - an awful habit for a lifelong vigorous supporter of women's issues and the survivor of a heck of a lot of gender discrimination over 45 vigorous professional years. I should know better!!!

[star73]

no worries! like I said you cant see me so how are you to know? :)

[robyn]

Hi I'm new to this site. I've had RA for almost 6 years now and can honestly say avoiding gluten really helps my RA. Whenever I eat gluten or tomatoes I find my problem areas are really aggrevated, so I cut it out of my diet and after a couple of weeks I noticed a massive difference! 4 years on and I still find the tiniest trace of gluten is enough to cause RA pain.
I've spoken to many other people with RA who have also noticed a link with diet and their RA - I guess it's different for different people, but so many people mention how avoiding gluten helps. My feet used to be really bloated - but I can honestly say in the last 4 years my feet have been skinnier and more comfy than they've ever felt :)