On MyMSTeam, more than 200 members report having multiple sclerosis (MS) and celiac disease. Because both are autoimmune conditions, it’s natural to wonder if they might be connected.

In celiac disease, the body reacts to gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye — by damaging the small intestine. Even without obvious symptoms, this damage can still occur in people with “silent” celiac disease.

“I have to be gluten-free, as two years ago I was tested for celiac before I could start taking new MS medication to make sure I would get full benefit from it,” one MyMSTeam member said. “The results came back that I have celiac that’s silent with no sensitivity to wheat on the surface, but it does damage on the inside.”

Read on to find out whether there are connections between celiac and MS. You’ll also find tips for living with both diseases.

Can Celiac Disease Cause Multiple Sclerosis?

Research hasn’t shown an increased likelihood of developing MS if you have celiac disease — or vice versa. While some earlier studies hinted at a possible link, more recent and larger studies have not found a higher-than-expected rate of celiac disease among people with MS, or MS among people with celiac disease.

In short, having one of these autoimmune conditions does not mean you’re more likely to develop the other.

That said, researchers have found that the two conditions may share some genetic similarities. These insights could help scientists better understand the immune system and move closer to breakthroughs in curing for MS as well as celiac disease.

MS and Celiac Disease: Similarities and Differences

MS develops when the immune system attacks the nervous system. This leads to lesions (damaged areas) on myelin, the protective coating surrounding nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. The breakdown is called demyelination. People with MS may have comorbidities (coexisting conditions). These include heart disease and other autoimmune diseases.

In celiac disease, gluten causes the immune system to attack the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. A gluten-free diet is the key treatment for easing celiac disease symptoms. But, like MS, there’s currently no cure for celiac disease.

Gluten and Multiple Sclerosis

Some people have found that eating gluten can cause their MS to flare. But research has not shown any significant link between eating gluten and MS disease activity. Many different diets have been suggested that could help with MS, including the keto diet and the Swank diet.

MyMSTeam members often discuss the impact of gluten on their MS symptoms. One member said, “I follow a gluten-free diet. It really cuts down on inflammation, which can wreak havoc on people with MS.”

Another replied, “I tested negative for a gluten allergy, but I have avoided gluten for two months so far with my husband, and we feel great.”

Said another member, “I have been on an anti-inflammatory diet for about three years — no red meat, no processed foods, no dairy, and no gluten.”

Some people with MS choose to remove both milk and wheat products from their diets. Certain earlier studies of people with MS showed a link between inflammation and dairy and wheat. Another study in Multiple Sclerosis Journal — Experimental, Translational and Clinical suggested that people with MS were more likely to have antibodies to gluten. But when further research was done, this was disproven.

With MS, eating healthy in general is important, although science says that cutting out dairy or gluten might not necessarily help. However, if cutting wheat from your diet makes you feel better, your neurologist may suggest avoiding it.

Do MS and Celiac Disease Have Similar Symptoms?

Celiac disease and MS share some symptoms.

Celiac disease symptoms are caused by inflammation from the immune system’s response to gluten. Common symptoms include gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. But celiac disease may also have neurological symptoms, such as:

• Peripheral neuropathy (tingling in the hands and feet)
• Balance problems
• Cognitive impairment (trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating)
• Joint pain

With MS, many symptoms are related to the immune system attacking the nerves of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. The main symptoms of MS include:

• Tingling
• Ataxia (lack of coordination)
• Vertigo
• Headache
• Cognitive problems

MS may also affect other parts of the body besides the neurological system. For example, messages from the nerves in the digestive system may be slowed down or blocked. This disruption can cause digestive problems, such as stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Living With MS and Celiac Disease

Living with both MS and celiac disease can be more challenging than living with just one of the conditions. You may need advice from two types of medical specialists:

• Neurologists, who treat conditions of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves
• Gastroenterologists, who treat disorders of the digestive tract

You may also need to try different treatments for each condition and make sure your medications don’t negatively interact. With the right medical advice, MS and celiac disease are both manageable.

Managing Multiple Sclerosis and Celiac Disease

There’s no cure for MS, but there are many treatment options. The right approach can vary from person to person, depending on the stage of the disease and how severe it is.

Treatments for MS attacks include corticosteroids to reduce nerve inflammation and plasma exchange for new and severe symptoms. To slow the progression of MS, doctors may prescribe disease-modifying therapies. These injectable or oral medicines help reduce relapses and limit damage to the nervous system.

Celiac disease is treated with a gluten-free diet. Some people with MS find that a gluten-free diet also improves their MS symptoms. The reason for this effect is not fully understood. There are no current guidelines for dietary treatment of MS, including a gluten-free diet.

It’s important to focus on what you can control when treating and managing these conditions. Your doctor may recommend making healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and reducing stress. These may help manage both MS and celiac disease.

A Genetic Link That Shows Promise for Research

Although there’s no relationship between having celiac disease and MS, scientists have found some genetic parallels between the two diseases. This could make celiac disease research potentially helpful in the work that scientists are doing to find a cure for MS.

One study suggested that the way gluten causes inflammation in celiac disease is similar to the way Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes systemic (bodywide) inflammation that’s linked to the development of MS. In celiac disease, you aren’t necessarily going to get the disease if you eat gluten, just like you aren’t necessarily going to get MS if you have EBV.

Researchers are continuing to investigate potential links between these conditions. Talk to your neurologist if you think you may have celiac disease in addition to MS.

Join the Conversation

On MyMSTeam, people share their experiences with multiple sclerosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Do you have multiple sclerosis and celiac disease? What has helped you manage these conditions? Share your story in the comments below.