Magnesium Status in Celiac Disease: Potential Links with Neuroinflammatory Pathways and Gut-Brain Axis Dysfunction

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Neuroimmunology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy with intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations, including neurological disorders.
• Magnesium (Mg) plays crucial roles in inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and neuronal signaling, suggesting a link to gut-brain axis communication.
• Altered Mg status is increasingly recognized as a potential factor in immune-mediated conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review the evidence on the relationship between Mg status, neuroinflammation, and gut-brain axis dysfunction in celiac disease.
• To explore potential mechanisms linking Mg to neurological manifestations in CD.
• To identify gaps in current knowledge and suggest future research directions.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Focus on studies published between 2019-2025, with inclusion of earlier landmark papers for mechanistic context.
• Assessment conducted using the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA).

Main Results:

• Reduced Mg status in CD is associated with intestinal malabsorption, chronic inflammation, and dietary deficiencies.
• Experimental studies suggest Mg influences neuroimmune signaling pathways.
• Direct clinical evidence linking altered Mg status to neurological symptoms in CD patients is currently limited.

Conclusions:

• Mg status may act as a modifier of inflammatory and neuroimmune pathways in celiac disease.
• Mg is unlikely to be an independent pathogenic factor for neurological issues in CD.
• Further prospective research is required to elucidate the precise role of Mg homeostasis in CD-related neurological manifestations.