| The author of this article has written it because their | | | | gluten-free foods." Ref 2 Of 86 respondents, 24 |
| partner is celiac, and they have asthma. Ever woken | | | | (27.8%; 21 female) had asthma, including 22 with |
| up in the middle of the night and not been able to | | | | known asthma and 2 with previously undiagnosed |
| breathe? The thing with asthma is that while it is | | | | asthma; the frequency of asthma in CD patients was |
| often hereditary, the onset in modern times often | | | | higher than that reported in the general Maltese |
| occurs earlier than for the preceding generation, again | | | | population (11.1%; pThey conclude that their findings |
| I have personal experience with this. I started | | | | suggest that asthma and allergic rhinitis are more |
| experiencing hay-fever and asthma type symptoms | | | | common in CD patients than in the general population |
| about five years before my father did. I only made | | | | in Malta. In patients with atopic diseases, index of |
| the celiac (wheat) / asthma connection a few years | | | | suspicion for CD should be high. |
| ago when after eating meat pies and pasties I found | | | | The above study clearly shows that asthma |
| an increase in my mucous as well as an | | | | symptoms are more prevalent among those people |
| accompanying tightened chest. | | | | who suffer from celiac disease. It looks like my pie |
| I have read several blog entries where people with | | | | story is gaining weight, all puns intended. |
| more severe forms of asthma have experienced a | | | | FINNISH study in 2001 (Ref 3: Journal of Allergy and |
| much greater asthma attack after ingesting gluten. | | | | Clinical Immunology) |
| While this is informative I believe that you the reader | | | | This study tested the postulate of whether TH1 and |
| are more likely to be persuaded that a link exists by | | | | TH2 cells could co-exist. A correlation between these |
| positive medical study results. That is why I have | | | | would suggest a correlation between celiac disease |
| included the following information. The link between | | | | and asthma. "Background: Asthma is generally |
| celiac disease and asthma has been as difficult to | | | | regarded as a disease with strong TH2-type cytokine |
| prove as finding the reason celiac disease exists. | | | | expression, whereas in autoimmune disorders, such |
| However some tangible evidence (statistical | | | | as celiac disease (CD), insulin-dependent diabetes |
| relationships) have been found. | | | | mellitus (IDDM), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), |
| The majority of articles suggest there is no link | | | | TH1-type expression is seen. According to the |
| between celiac disease and asthma, while anecdotal | | | | cross-regulatory properties of TH1 and TH2 cells, one |
| evidence from celiacs suggests that their asthma | | | | would assume that these diseases exist in different |
| increases dramatically after the ingestion of any | | | | patient populations." Ref 3 "Objective: We sought to |
| gluten foods. For instance, an article by Dr Pradeep | | | | test the hypothesis that asthma could exist in |
| Bhandari (Ref 1) says that "Celiac disease and | | | | children with TH1-type diseases, such as CD, IDDM, |
| Asthma tend to run in families and the tendency to | | | | and RA. Methods: Comparison was made of the |
| get these diseases is inherited genetically. However, | | | | cumulative incidence of asthma in children with CD, |
| they are not inter-linked. The tendency to get celiac | | | | IDDM, or RA by linking Finnish Medical Birth Register |
| disease is inherited genetically. It mostly affects | | | | data on the whole 1987 birth cohort (n = 60,254 |
| people of European descent. It is also more common | | | | births) with the data of several national health |
| in families with Diabetes or rheumatoid Arthritis. | | | | registers to obtain information on the incidences of |
| Something in the environment is necessary to trigger | | | | these diseases during the first 7 years of life." Ref 3 |
| the celiac disease in those who are susceptible. | | | | "Results: The cumulative incidence of asthma in |
| Asthma tends to run in families. A person with a | | | | children with CD (24.6%) or RA (10.0%) was |
| parent who has Asthma is three to six times more | | | | significantly higher than in children without CD (3.4%) |
| likely to develop Asthma than someone who doesn't | | | | or RA (3.4%; P T |
| have a parent with Asthma. But no single gene is | | | | These data indicate that the TH1 and TH2 diseases |
| responsible for Asthma. Instead, you may inherit a | | | | can coexist, indicating a common environmental |
| general predisposition to Asthma" Ref 1 However a | | | | denominator behind the disease processes." |
| 2005 study was performed on a population of 86 | | | | IMPLICATIONS While these two studies do not show |
| persons residing in the Maltese Islands in the | | | | a causal relationship (proof that one disease causes |
| Mediterranean Sea does suggest some correlation: | | | | another), they do suggest that there is a strong |
| MALTESE RESEARCH 2005 (Ref 2: Ellul P, Vassallo M, | | | | correlation between the diseases. That means that if |
| Montefort S) | | | | you have celiac disease there is a greater likelihood |
| "Patients previously diagnosed to have CD (based on | | | | that you will have asthma. The main 'take home' |
| serological tests and duodenal biopsy) and attending a | | | | point from this is that for people who are celiac, or |
| medical out-patient clinic answered a questionnaire | | | | gluten intolerant, and have asthma, that the removal |
| designed to determine whether they had previously | | | | of gluten from their diet is likely to decreases the |
| been diagnosed to have asthma or allergic rhinitis." | | | | incidence and severity of their asthma. |
| Ref 2 "All 86 patients (age range 16-69 [median 43] | | | | With global warming extending the hayfever season |
| years; 65 female) answered the questionnaire about | | | | over the last several years, the last thing I need is |
| CD and asthma. They constituted 21% of the 409 | | | | gluten intolerance extending difficulty in breathing to |
| patients with CD in the Maltese islands included in a | | | | all year round. If you are celiac or gluten intolerant |
| register kept for controlling free prescription of | | | | and asthmatic, this article may help you quit gluten. |