Gluten-free diet can ameliorate the symptoms of non-celiac autoimmune diseases

Abstract

Context A gluten-free diet (GFD) is the recommended treatment for gluten-dependent disease. In addition, gluten withdrawal is popular and occasionally is suggested as a treatment for other autoimmune diseases (ADs). Objective The current systematic review summarizes those entities and discusses the logic behind using a GFD in classical non–gluten-dependentADs. Data Sources A search for medical articles in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, LILACS, and Scielo published between 1960 and 2020 was conducted, using the key words for various ADs and GFDs. Data Exxtraction Eight-three articles were included in the systematic review (using PRISMA guidelines). Data Analysis Reduction in symptoms of ADs after observance of a GFD was observed in 911 out of 1408 patients (64.7%) and in 66 out of the 83 selected studies (79.5%). The age of the patients ranged from 9 months to 69 years. The duration of the GFD varied from 1 month to 9 years. A GFD can suppress several harmful intraluminal intestinal events. Potential mechanisms and pathways for the action of GFD in the gut – remote organs’ axis have been suggested. Conclusion A GFD might represent a novel nutritional therapeutic strategy for classical non–gluten-dependent autoimmune conditions.

Plant-based dietary changes may improve symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

“…(20) Conversely, large intakes of compounds found in processed foods such as sugar and gluten is associated with gut dysbiosis, systemic inflammation and exacerbation of SLE symptoms. (4,7,21,22) Petric et al found that SLE patients in clinical remission who often ate meat, fast food or fried foods had lower levels of C3 than patients who had high intake of vegetables, fruit and fish. (12) Interestingly, substituting a serving of red meat with alternative protein sources (including poultry, fish, legumes or nuts) has been associated with lower CRP levels.…”

Could I-FABP Be an Early Marker of Celiac Disease in Children with Type 1 Diabetes? Retrospective Study from the Tertiary Reference Centre

“…However, this observation does not answer the question of whether GFD may be effective in T1D patients without CD. The hypothesis that gluten is harmful not only to patients with CD but also to those with other autoimmune diseases was suggested recently [ 33 , 35 ]. Researchers suggest that GFD may offer the potential to reduce the risk of T1D [ 36 ], and a few studies indicate that GFD, when applied to older children with T1D, may protect beta cells from destruction to some extent.…”

Cross-reactivity and sequence similarity between microbial transglutaminase and human tissue antigens

“…Those three interrelated pathways are the basis for our current novel hypothesis, whereby, two very common environmental domains, plants and microbes, and gluten and mTG, respectively, are joining together to induce autoimmunity and other gluten-dependent inflammatory diseases 4 , 7 , 9 , 22 , 26 , 27 , 32 , 39 , 41 . Interestingly, gluten avoidance was recently reported to alleviate symptoms and disease activity of non-celiac ADs 81 , 82 , 102 – 106 , although, gluten withdrawal is not devoid of side effects 107 – 109 . Taken together, both external factors, the mTG and gluten-containing nutrients, can operate as the mythological Trojan horse to drive luminal and extra-intestinal ADs 29 .…”