Gluten Free Society Blog, Nerve damage

Facial Palsy and Gluten Sensitivity – A Connection is Found

A recent paper published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry discusses a strong connection in patients with facial palsy induced by gluten.

Recurrent peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) is an uncommon disorder that often occurs in the setting of family history. In 2001, we observed a patient with recurrent PFP who manifested symptoms of coeliac disease (CD) several months later. Because of this observation and because neurological disorders may be the only manifestation of atypical forms of CD…

Study Source:

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry doi:10.1136/jnnp-2011-301921

What is Facial Palsy?

Facial palsy is a disorder characterized by paralysis of muscles in the face. It is sometimes referred to as Bell’s Palsy. It can be caused by a Herpes virus, and in sometimes caused as a result of inner ear infections. New research links gluten intolerance to this neurological disorder.

Gluten Sensitivity & Nerve Damage

There are numerous studies linking gluten intolerance issues with damage to the nervous system. Some doctors believe that the primary way that this protein induces damage is through nerves.

Dr. Charles Parker, a psychiatrist has great experience with gluten damaging brain tissue.
Dr. John Symes, a veterinarian has discovered a connection between gluten intolerance and epilepsy in dogs and cats.
Dr. Hadjivassilliou has discovered a link between gluten and multiple neurological diseases including cerebellar ataxia, nerve pain, numbness and tingling, dizziness, and more

Gluten can also contribute to neurological problems by inducing nutritional deficiencies…

Resolution of Nerve Disease on a Gluten Free Diet

Many patients experience a complete resolution of nervous system symptoms after going on a gluten free diet. I have personally seen the following conditions improve or resolve in my Houston clinic:

Migraine headache
Nerve entrapment syndromes (carpal tunnel disease, cervicobrachial syndrome)
Chronic nerve pain (reflex sympathetic dystrophy)
Neuropathy (numbness and tingling of the hands, feet, on the torso, etc)
Bipolar disease
Schizophrenia
ADD/ADHD
Autism
Vertigo
Epilepsy

Gluten is a Neurotoxin

Although gluten is not a catch all for people with nerve disease, it is a known neurological toxin and intolerance/sensitivity should be ruled out in those suffering with unexplained neurological diseases. If you are already following a gluten free diet, but continue to have neurological symptoms, consider that other common environmental factors can contribute to neurological symptoms and nerve damage as well:

aspartame (Nutrasweet)
Caffeine
Chemical pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides commonly sprayed on non organic produce
Mercury exposure (present in some vaccines)
Lead exposure
Cadmium exposure
Aluminum exposure (excessive)
B-vitamin deficiency states (especially vitamins B1, B12, B6, B3, and folate)

Need help going gluten free? Check out the Glutenology Health Matrix Here <<==