Welcome to CeliacBrain-400% increased risk of death by age 65 in undiagnosed celiacs

Welcome to CeliacBrain.



I have been studying Celiac disease and its other manifestation, gluten sensitivity since 1995 and I have become aware of its serious, dangerous, hidden and virtually unknown consequences. I am a physician, practising since 1977, and have seen the devastating effects of celiac/gluten sensitivity and I have seen the remarkable turnaround of very seriously ill persons when they have been on a diet free of gluten.

This site is to spread the word of its serious and dangerous nature to those interested whether you are a physician, other health care professional, or a person in need of more information.

I propose to bring to you the newest in scientific research, links to other reputable celiac disease/gluten sensitivity websites, and other helpful articles or news items.


Many of the articles will focus on mental health issues as the brain seems to be the primary target of gluten's effects in the person susceptible to gluten damage.

Here is a video presentation by Dr. Murray from the Mayo clinic. which has stunning information about the shorten life expectancy of those who have gluten sensitivity (including persons with celiac disease) but are undiagnosed.  

400% increased risk of death by age 65 in undiagnosed celiacs 
Dr. Joseph Murray and his team from the Mayo clinic reported on a small but significant study they published in 2009. Not only was there an astronomically elevated death rate, but they noticed that there has been a 400% increase in the incidence of celiac disease since 1948.

Watch and listen to Dr. Murray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKwKQ7W9qlM

Here is a biography and professional profile of one of North America's most serious researchers in celiac disease.              http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/staff/murray_ja.cfm

Note from Dr. Barbara Powell: all information on these pages is accurate to the best of my knowledge. Information from secondary sources should be double checked before being cited. 

Early Diagnosis of Gluten Sensitivity: Before the Villi are Gone by By Kenneth Fine, M.D.

I find the Journal of Gluten Sensitivity most helpful. It's a by subscription only journal and is mailed to you. Dr. Fine, a pre-eminent gastroenterologist, has lots of wise advice when it comes to celiac or gluten sensitivity. He believes in early diagnosis as I do.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2004 edition of Celiac.com's Scott-Free Newsletter. Transcript of a talk given by Kenneth Fine, M.D. to the Greater Louisville Celiac Sprue Support Group––transcribed by Marge Johannemann; Edited by Kelly Vogt.

Celiac.com 03/04/2004 - Gluten sensitivity is the process by which the immune system reacts to gluten contained in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. The reaction begins in the intestine because that is where the inciting antigen, gluten, is present (from food). When this immunologic reaction damages the finger-like surface projections, the villi, in the small intestine (a process called villous atrophy), it is called celiac disease (or sometimes celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy). The clinical focus of gluten-induced disease has always been on the intestine because that is the only way the syndrome was recognized before screening tests were developed. The intestinal syndrome consists mainly of diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, fat in the stool, nutrient malabsorption, and even constipation. Although the small intestine is always the portal of the immune response to dietary gluten, it is not always affected in a way that results in villous atrophy. Even though recent research has shown that celiac disease is much more common than previously suspected, affecting 1 in 100-200 Americans and Europeans, past and emerging evidence indicates that it accounts for only a small portion of the broader gluten sensitive clinical spectrum (often referred to as the “Tip of the Gluten Sensitive Iceberg”). With better understanding of how gluten triggers immune and autoimmune reactions in the body under the control of various genes, and advancing techniques of detecting these reactions, it is becoming apparent that the majority of the gluten sensitive population (the submerged “mass of the iceberg”) do not manifest villous atrophy in its classic, complete form and therefore do not have celiac disease. In these non-celiac, gluten sensitive individuals, the brunt of the immune reaction either affects the function of the intestine, causing symptoms without structural damage, affects other tissues of the body (and virtually all tissues have been affected in different individuals), or both. This is important because the commonly used diagnostic tests of clinically important gluten sensitivity (blood tests for certain antibodies and intestinal biopsies) are only positive when villous atrophy of the small intestine is present. But if only a small minority of gluten sensitive individuals actually develop celiac disease, the majority, who have not yet or may never develop villous atrophy, with or without symptoms, can remain undiagnosed and untreated for years. This can result in significant immune and nutritional consequences, many of which are irreversible even after treatment with a gluten-free diet. Some of these disorders include loss of hormone secretion by glands (hypothyroidism, diabetes, pancreatic insufficiency, etc), osteoporosis, short stature, cognitive impairment, and other inflammatory bowel, liver, and skin diseases, and cancer among others. Only with early diagnosis, can these problems be prevented or reversed.

I am here to report on a scientific paradigm shift regarding early diagnosis of gluten sensitivity based on about 30 years of medical research by myself and others. My message is that earlier and more inclusive diagnosis of gluten sensitivity than has been allowed by blood tests and intestinal biopsies must be developed to prevent the nutritional and immune consequences of long-standing gluten sensitivity. Imagine going to a cardiologist because your blood pressure is high or you’re having chest pain, and the doctor says he is going to do a biopsy of your heart to see what is wrong. If it ‘looks’ O.K., you are told you have no problem and no treatment is prescribed because you have not yet had a heart attack showing on the biopsy. You would not think very highly of the doctor utilizing this approach because, after all, isn’t it damage to the heart that you would want to prevent? But for the intestine and gluten sensitivity, current practice embraces this fallacious idea that until an intestinal biopsy shows structural damage, no diagnosis or therapeutic intervention is offered. 

You can find out more about Dr. Fine and his lab tests at www.enterolab.com and read his full article about early diagnosis at  www.enterolab.com. 

Hepatitis vaccination failure high in a person with celiac disease

The HBV vaccine is usually effective against common hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with just 4-10% of vaccine recipients failing to respond to standard immunization. Some studies suggest that people with celiac disease may have high levels of failure to develop antibodies to HBV after immunization with the HBV vaccine, compared to the general population. The vaccine fails to take. 

The ability to respond to recombinant HBV vaccine is associated with certain gene sites. At those sites, certain HLA Haplotypes, such as B8, DR3, and DQ2 are common genetic markers among non-responders. 98% of people with celiac disease have the HLA Haplotype DQ2.

Hoping to understand this phenomenon better, a group of doctors from the Research Center for Gastroenterology  and Liver Disease at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, and with Acute Medicine at Dudley Group of Hospital in Dudley, UK  reviewed data from previous studies.

They conclude... (My bolds)…....Longer intervals between vaccination and antibody testing might be one of the reasons for significantly low protective post-vaccination HBV antibody titers even in CD patients who comply with dietary guidelines [8][14]. Therefore, revaccination is recommended when the patients are following a controlled gluten-free diet.

This study was not designed to determine the presence of HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 in both the groups. Therefore, future studies evaluating the HLA haplotypes in CD and control groups should aim to characterize the role of HLA typing in the response to HBV vaccination.

As in the case of other conditions and as indicated by the strong evidence for the protective role of GFD, early diagnosis of CD may obviously increase the percentage of patients responding to the HBV vaccine. Moreover, beginning with a short duration, strict, gluten-free diet seems to play a positive role in the development of antibody memory. Given the high prevalence of CD in the general population and a lack of response to HBV vaccine in untreated patients, we think that non-responsiveness to HBV vaccine necessitates routine assessment in patients with CD. Non-responsiveness to HBV vaccine may be a possible sign of undiagnosed CD or may suggest noncompliance with gluten-free diet.

                                                                                                                                                

The evidence indicates that early diagnosis of celiac disease, and strong recommendation and treatment with a gluten-free diet may increase the overall percentage of patients responding favorably to the HBV vaccine. 

The review team points out that the high prevalence of celiac disease in the general population and a lack of response to HBV vaccine in untreated patients, invites routine assessment in patients with celiac disease receiving the HBV vaccine, to include whether or not they are on a strict gluten free diet. Vaccinate only after a few months on GF diet.

Lastly, the review team notes that non-responsiveness to HBV vaccine should trigger some suspicion that the person may have undiagnosed celiac disease or noncompliance with gluten-free diet if the person already knows they are celiac.

And that is how we are going to get more people properly diagnosed so that they get on a strict gluten free diet and will have 10-20 more healthy years added to their lives.









Hepatitis vaccination failure high in a person with celiac disease


The HBV vaccine is usually effective against common hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with just 4-10% of vaccine recipients failing to respond to standard immunization. Some studies suggest that people with celiac disease may have high levels of failure to develop antibodies to HBV after immunization with the HBV vaccine, compared to the general population. The vaccine fails to take. 


The ability to respond to recombinant HBV vaccine is associated with certain gene sites. At those sites, certain HLA Haplotypes, such as B8, DR3, and DQ2 are common genetic markers among non-responders. 98% of people with celiac disease have the HLA Haplotype DQ2.


Hoping to understand this phenomenon better, a group of doctors from the Research Center for Gastroenterology  and Liver Disease at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, and with Acute Medicine at Dudley Group of Hospital in Dudley, UK  reviewed data from previous studies.


They conclude... (My bolds)…....Longer intervals between vaccination and antibody testing might be one of the reasons for significantly low protective post-vaccination HBV antibody titers even in CD patients who comply with dietary guidelines [8][14]. Therefore, revaccination is recommended when the patients are following a controlled gluten-free diet.
This study was not designed to determine the presence of HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 in both the groups. Therefore, future studies evaluating the HLA haplotypes in CD and control groups should aim to characterize the role of HLA typing in the response to HBV vaccination.
As in the case of other conditions and as indicated by the strong evidence for the protective role of GFD, early diagnosis of CD may obviously increase the percentage of patients responding to the HBV vaccine. Moreover, beginning with a short duration, strict, gluten-free diet seems to play a positive role in the development of antibody memory. Given the high prevalence of CD in the general population and a lack of response to HBV vaccine in untreated patients, we think that non-responsiveness to HBV vaccine necessitates routine assessment in patients with CD. Non-responsiveness to HBV vaccine may be a possible sign of undiagnosed CD or may suggest noncompliance with gluten-free diet.
                                                                                                                                                


The evidence indicates that early diagnosis of celiac disease, and strong recommendation and treatment with a gluten-free diet may increase the overall percentage of patients responding favorably to the HBV vaccine. 


The review team points out that the high prevalence of celiac disease in the general population and a lack of response to HBV vaccine in untreated patients, invites routine assessment in patients with celiac disease receiving the HBV vaccine, to include whether or not they are on a strict gluten free diet. Vaccinate only after a few months on GF diet.


Lastly, the review team notes that non-responsiveness to HBV vaccine should trigger some suspicion that the person may have undiagnosed celiac disease or noncompliance with gluten-free diet if the person already knows they are celiac.


And that is how we are going to get more people properly diagnosed so that they get on a strict gluten free diet and will have 10-20 more healthy years added to their lives.

The Deadly side- effects of calcium supplements

I've written before that osteoporosis is linked to gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. Those with osteoporosis will get lots of help with a gluten free diet, exercise, and supplements described in detail in Dr. Gaby's book "How to prevent and treat Osteoporosis".


Many think that more calcium is better. Not so, in fact, there is increasing evidence that too much calcium is increasing the risk of heart disease and cancer. This is because there are different types of calcium and as I say often "it takes a little of a lot of substances to get a super hero team, not a lot of one thing " to get any job done. And that includes preventing and treating osteoporosis.I advocate to never take more calcium than magnesium and to never go without vitamins D and K-2.


Here is an article which goes into details about the link between calcium intake above 100 mg a day and breast cancer and heart attacks. 
And how there is poor if not absent research for calcium supplements reducing fracture risk! I know you want to reduce your risk of breaking a bone and are taking calcium as a way to that end.


The article explains why vitamin K2 ingestion is crucial if you take vitamin D and calcium. And why food is the best source of calcium.


I agree with everything Dr. Mercola suggests here:

The bottom line is, optimize your vitamin D levels through sun exposure and consume a variety of fresh, local organic whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, organic meats and eggs, unprocessed salt, and raw organic unpasteurized dairy, which will give you the bioavailable calcium your body needs along with the trace minerals and other cofactors it needs to be absorbed and properly utilized by your body.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/30/calcium-supplement-on-heart-attack.aspx?e_cid=20120130_DNL_art_1


Avoid high doses of calcium and use a combination of food, sun exposure,exercise, good food (gluten free if you are gluten sensitive) and supplements including potassium, vitamin D, and K2 to prevent and treat osteoporosis.
Dr. Barbara

Here are some ways Gluten causes Depression

In my opinion it is very important to make sure a depressed person is not celiac, or gluten sensitive as this in the most common cause of reversible depression.  37% of gluten sensitive persons have a mental disorder and 37% have a neurological problem like migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome or worse, Parkinson’s disease.

Gluten causes depression by:

 1. Causing vasoconstriction and hypo-perfusion of the brain.

2. Lowering of brain neurochemicals.

3. Causing low vitamin D3 a natural antidepressant,

4. Gluten creates antibodies to brain connective tissues (Molecular mimicry) and inflammation.

5. Gluten ingestion creates morphine like substances in the bowel which are absorbed into the blood stream in people who are gluten sensitive and leads to hallucinations.

6. Causes low cholesterol and subsequent low steroid hormones and hormone imbalances i.e. PMS

7. Causing protein deficiency and subsequent low neurochemicals and poor connective tissues AND low Glutathione (GSH) which is the major rate limiting step to detoxification (low GSH leads heavy metal and other toxicity and to hallucinations or paranoid ideas, remember the “Mad Hatter”).

8. Gluten sensitive persons have a high rate of abnormal methylation genes, (in my study, 90%, study is in the process of being published) and high HOMOCYSTEINE (greater than 8), a neurotoxin. This can be re-mediated with supplements with the added benefit of also incurring a 50% reduction in heart disease and cancer and reduction of risk of many other diseases.  

9. Reducing immune strength and making persons who are gluten sensitive immunocompromised and at risk of having multiple and serious infections. Some of these infections trigger brain dysfunction especially Lyme’s disease, streptococcus, CMV, Epstein Barr and herpes virus.

10. Causing a 10x increased rate of autoimmune disease such as hypothyroidism, which present as depression.

11. Causes malnutrition including mineral deficiencies (such as zinc, sulphur, and selenium deficiencies) linked to depression, low hormones, toxicity and immunocompromised state.

If you are gluten sensitive it’s important to never eat gluten. How do you know if you are gluten sensitive? Sometimes you have no outward signs so it’s important to do some reliable testing. I find www.enterolab.com gives me the information I need to diagnose and help people. If you are already on a gluten free diet, do the genetics test?

Even if you are well, I think the most important information you could have is your genetic status for gluten sensitivity. If you have the genes for gluten sensitivity, you have the information to make informed decisions to add 15 -20 extra healthy years to your life.

Undiagnosed celiacs and gluten sensitive persons have a 400% increased risk of dying, and live 15- 20 years less than the average life expectancy. And have about 15 years of disability. This is a public health crisis.

Add 15 -20 healthy years to your life by finding out if you have the genes for gluten sensitivity and making some healthy changes in your diet.

To your Health

Dr. Barbara

Low Cholesterol is a sign of celiac/gluten sensitivity, and is DANGEROUS

Low cholesterol, when found by blood work, should trigger a high degree of suspicion on the part of the physician that the person has celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Low cholesterol is any level of total cholesterol below 4.14 mmol/L or 160 mg/dL.

Low cholesterol is dangerous because it is linked by numerous studies to depression, suicide, violent behaviour, and increased death rate from a violent episode such as accident or homicide!!!

The following studies have linked low cholesterol levels to an increased risk of developing depression:

1. A 1993 paper in Lancet reported, “Among men aged seventy years and older, depression was three times more common in the group with low total plasma cholesterol…than in those with higher concentrations.”

2. A 2000 paper in Psychosomatic Medicine, reported men with long-term, low total cholesterol levels “have a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms” compared to those with higher cholesterol levels.

3. In 1998, a Swedish research paper showed women with the lowest cholesterol group (the bottom tenth percentile) suffered from significantly more depressive symptoms than did the other healthy women.

4. A 2001 study in Psychiatry Research also found that low levels of cholesterol were linked to higher ratings on depression rating scales.

5. A 2008 meta-analyses found higher total cholesterol was associated with lower levels of depression.

6. Low levels of HDL were linked to “long-term depressive symptomatology”.

Numerous studies link the sad, fatal condition of suicide to low level of cholesterol.

And suicide is not the only type of violence associated with lower cholesterol levels.

Swedish researchers reported that “low cholesterol is associated with increased subsequent victimization by criminal violence.”

And low cholesterol is linked to higher risk of cancer.

A recent study published in Curr Med Res Opin. 2011 Sep 7. Epub 2011 Sep 7. PMID: 21899411confirmed the significant association between low cholesterol and cancer mortality in the general population. A Japanese study showed an inverse relationship between cholesterol and cancer Int J Cancer. 2009 Dec 1;125(11):2679-86. PMID: 19544528

And another 2009 Japanese study showed there is an inverse association between serum total cholesterol and cancer mortality, especially for liver cancer. Int J Cancer. 2009 Dec 1;125(11):2679-86. PMID: 19544528

How does low cholesterol cause so much brain dysfunction?

 As is the case with so much of psychiatry, we don’t know exactly why a low cholesterol level is linked to depression or cancer. Canadian researchers were the first to examine this question in their 2007 study published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. Low cholesterol seems to affect the frontal cortex, a part of the brain that handles planning including inhibiting inappropriate actions and making good decisions.

Chronic low grade inflammation is theorized as the basis of many mental illnesses, cancer and chronic illness of the modern world.

Cholesterol, the mother of our hormones.

Cholesterol is a precursor to all steroid and sex hormones like progesterone, DHEA, estriol, testosterone, and cortisol ALL important for our functioning but ALL also anti-inflammatory.

Cholesterol is also theorized to be a part of the activation of many neurochemical, so without enough cholesterol some neurochemical can’t do their job for example serotonin.

Vitamin D is synthesized with the help of cholesterol and ultraviolet light.

What if you are on a cholesterol lowering drug and it is below 4.14?

I would recommend that you get celiac testing and talk to your doctor about the dose of the lipid lowering drug and adjusting the dose to allow the cholesterol levels to rise naturally to above 4.14mmol/L.

To Your Health

Wheat Lectin (WGA) is Cytotoxic, Neurotoxic, Cardiotoxic and Immunotoxic

Lectins, components of grains act to protect the grain plant and act like anti-nutrients. If you are struggling with celiac disease or other gastrointestinal issues, you need to read about chitin-binding Lectins to understand what is going on and their danger.

Start by linking to this incredibly well researched article called "Opening Pandora's Bread Box: The critical role of wheat lectin in Human Disease" by Sayer Ji. 

I learned that sprouted wheat has MORE lectins than regular wheat!

Dr. Mercola writes a wellness newsletter and he shares cutting edge information.

He recently wrote on gluten and lectins:

"Gluten" comes from the Latin word for glue, so named because its adhesive properties hold bread and other baked goods together. Gluten is present in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. The glue-like properties interfere with the breakdown and absorption of nutrients, including the nutrients from other foods in the same meal. The result is a sticky, constipating lump in your gut, rather than a nutritious, easily digested meal.

This undigested glutinous gut-bomb may trigger your immune system to attack the lining of your small intestine, causing diarrhea or constipation, nausea, and/or abdominal pain. Severe reactions are classified as "celiac disease," and milder reactions fall under the category of "gluten intolerance." Over time, your small intestine can become increasingly damaged and less able to absorb nutrients, such as iron and calcium. This in turn can lead to anemia, osteoporosis and other health problems.

Modern wheat (and other grains) differs greatly from the wheat our ancestors ate. The proportion of gluten protein in wheat has increased enormously as a result of hybridization. Legumes are also loaded with lectins, which is why most who follow a Paleo type diet avoid them.

Lectins: The Plant Kingdom's Weapon of Mass Destruction

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are widespread in the plant kingdom. Plants produce lectins to ward off their natural enemies, such as fungi and insects. However, lectins are not just the nemesis of fungi and insects, but are also plaguing humans. Please refer to the excellent video above by Chris Meletis, ND, who discusses the many dangers posed by these glycoproteins.

There are many types of lectins.

And from the same article....................

 Wheat Lectin (WGA) is Cytotoxic, Neurotoxic, Cardiotoxic and ImmunotoxicWheat lectin, or "wheat germ agglutinin" (WGA), is largely responsible for many of wheat's pervasive ill effects. WGA is highest in whole wheat, especially sprouted whole wheat, but wheat isn't the only grain with significant lectin. All seeds of the grass family (rice, wheat, spelt, rye, etc.) are high in Lectins.

Read more here at Mercola.com.