Celiac and Migraine Headaches

Is gluten a migraine trigger? Are celiac disease and migraines connected? According to a recent article in Delight magazine's July 2011 issue it is. In the article it states that upwards around 45% of people that haven't been formally diagnosed with celiac disease suffer from migraine headaches on a regular basis. Why such a large percentage? Something called cytokines seems to be involved.

Cytokines

Cytokines are part of an immune response that is mediated by individual cells and they hold some bearing on the function of other cells, namely some of our good cells called killer T cells. These cells are helpful in getting other infected or sick cells to self destruct, hence the good immune response benefit of these killer T's.

Serotonin and Cytokines

Cytokines are also not helpful in keeping stress to a minimum as it turns out. According to the article, cytokines have the tendency to snuff out our "feel good" neurotransmitter called serotonin. A substance that calms us, helps us to sleep, and provides considerable relief from pain sources. This is where researchers believe that celiac has it's contribution.

Celiac disease carries autoimmune responses that cause increased cytokine reactions in the brain. Due to this event, serotonin levels drop, and as a result oodles of killer T cells are in abundance to attack our normal cells. This is what is believed to generate the massive debilitating migraine pain.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Also thought to come into play in this situation is a vitamin and enzyme deficiencies including nutrients like B-12, folic acid, biopterin and vitamin E. These are the common vitamin deficiencies in those with undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease. These deficiencies are also known to be linked to celiac disease that hasn't been managed and can cause a host of nuerological symptoms including migraines.

Eliminating Gluten

After multiple medical tests come up with no answers to the migraine headaches for many, they turn to simple elimination of gluten in their diets. Anecdotal evidence has illustrated in the past that eliminating the gluten products improves the migraine situation and often times they have disappeared completely within a matter of weeks.