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Published on: December 15, 2011
Multiple sclerosis and gluten sensitivity
Afshin Borhani Haghighi1, Neda Ansari, Maral Mokhtari
1Department of Neurology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. borhanihaghighi@yahoo.com
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
|June 1, 2007
Summary
This study found no significant difference in gluten sensitivity markers between multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy individuals in Iran. Gluten sensitivity is not associated with MS in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
- The role of environmental factors, including diet, in MS pathogenesis is under investigation.
- Gluten sensitivity, characterized by an immune response to gluten, has been explored as a potential factor in various autoimmune conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of gluten sensitivity in Iranian patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
- To compare the prevalence of specific antibodies related to gluten sensitivity between MS patients and a healthy control group.
- To determine any potential association between gluten sensitivity markers and multiple sclerosis in the Iranian population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 161 clinically definite multiple sclerosis patients and 166 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited.
- Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to measure IgG and IgA antigliadin antibodies (AGA).
- Further testing, including IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and duodenal biopsy, was performed for individuals with positive AGA results.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in IgG or IgA antigliadin antibody levels between multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls.
- All patients with positive antigliadin antibody results tested negative for anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies and showed normal duodenal histology.
- Mean antibody levels did not differ significantly across various demographic and clinical subgroups within the MS patient cohort.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that gluten sensitivity is not significantly associated with multiple sclerosis in the studied Iranian population.
- Elevated antigliadin antibodies alone, without other indicators, do not signify a clinically relevant gluten sensitivity in the context of MS.
- Further research may be warranted to explore other dietary or environmental factors in MS pathogenesis.
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