Migraine signs of gluten intolerance?

Gluten intolerance as a cause of tiredness, migraine and depression?

07/04/2014

Many Germans suffer from gluten intolerance, without suspecting it. At first sight, the symptoms often show no connection with gluten intolerance. The German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) calls here, for example „Diarrhea, lack of nutrients, but also tiredness, depression or migraine“ as possible consequences of celiac disease (gluten intolerance with characteristic inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa).

According to the DGVS, gluten intolerance is also increasingly associated with autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes or autoimmune thyroid inflammation. Furthermore, are not rare with the gluten intolerance „unclear increases in liver enzymes, rheumatic complaints, mild anemia or osteoporosis“ connected. Diarrhea, a bloated abdomen and deficiency symptoms are to be observed in small children as typical complaints of the gluten intolerance. Overall, according to the data of the DGVS according to Germany „at least four out of every 1,000 people“ at a celiac disease. With the newly developed treatment guideline of the German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases, the care of those affected will be significantly improved in the future.

Gluten intolerance often goes unrecognized
In her new guideline „celiac Disease“ go the experts of the DGVS of „a high number of diseased, but undiagnosed persons“ out. Often the gluten intolerance is not recognized as such. Because „Celiac disease can occur at any age and has many manifestations“, explained Professor Andreas Stallmach, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine IV at the University Hospital Jena and added: „That's why we call it the chameleon of gastroenterology.“ The disease occurs, for example, in connection with a blistering skin disease, the „Dermatitis herpetiformis Duhring“, Many adults would complain of long-term indigestion, fatigue, and mental health problems at initial diagnosis, but there may be no symptoms at all.

Celiac disease test recommended
The DGVS advises not only on conspicuous indigestion, but also in the above-mentioned symptoms such as migraine, unclear liver function elevation, rheumatic complaints, mild anemia, etc. to a celiac disease test. The designated risk groups and close relatives should be offered an appropriate test by physicians, said Professor Detlef Schuppan, head of the celiac outpatient clinic at Mainz University Hospital, who co-ordinated the preparation of the guideline with Professor Stallmach. Often the celiac patients discovered in this way would first notice with the gluten-free diet, „that they have gone much worse under gluten-containing diet“, so the message of the DGVS.

Diet helps to avoid secondary diseases
According to the DGVS, for the detection of gluten intolerance, the blood of the patients on certain autoantibodies against the enzyme „tissue transglutaminase“ examined. If the result is not clear, genetic risk markers in the blood could provide information, the experts continue. To confirm the suspicion serve the investigation of tissue samples from the small intestine. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the person concerned helps according to the DGVS „only the omission of gluten-containing foods from wheat, spelled, barley or rye - such as bread, pasta, pizza or beer.“ However, this is not easy to implement, since today many refined foods contain Glutenbeimengungen. Doctors and patients should be generally aware of the fact, „that an early diagnosis and the associated recommendation for a gluten-free diet can prevent deficiency symptoms and secondary diseases“, stressed Professor Stallmach. (Fp)