Anxiety as a Symptom in Gluten Disorders

Anxiety as a Symptom in Gluten Disorders More in GAD Coping Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Anxiety is a pretty common symptom both in celiac disease and in non-celiac  gluten sensitivityâ€"plenty of newly diagnosed people (and more than a few whove been diagnosed for some time) report feelings of both anxiety and depression. But its not clear whether or not gluten in the diet actually causes anxiety, or whether the anxiety is related to something else. Its possible that nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition might contribute to anxiety in people with the diagnosed celiac disease (who have intestinal damage that prevents them from absorbing nutrients). But people with gluten sensitivity dont suffer from this same intestinal damage, and yet, some experience similar or potentially even higher levels of anxiety. Whats causing this anxiety in people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity? Researchers arent certain. However, it could be a combination of factors, including an anxious reaction to the necessity of following the gluten-free diet, and possibly even a direct effect of gluten itself on the brain. Anxiety Common in People With Celiac at First Diagnosis Several studies have identified high levels of anxiety in people with celiac disease when theyre first diagnosed. According to one study, both state anxiety (a type of anxiety thats temporary and involves a heightened autonomic nervous system response) and trait anxiety (a measure of how prone you are to anxiety) were elevated in people who had just learned they had celiac disease. That study, which looked at 35 celiacs and compared them to 59 control subjects, found high levels of state anxiety in 71% of the celiacs, but in only 24% of the control subjects. It also found that 26% of the newly diagnosed celiacs showed anxiety as a trait, compared to 15% of controls (that difference, however, did not reach statistical significance, meaning it could have been due to chance).?? After a year of following the gluten-free diet, the celiacs anxiety levels had dropped. However, 26% were still affected by state anxiety and 17% still showed anxiety as a trait. The study authors note that the drop in trait anxiety did not reach statistical significance, again indicating it could have been due to chance. These findings suggest that anxiety in celiac disease patients is present predominantly as a reactive form rather than as a personality trait, probably related to the presence of the main symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss, often reported by the patients as a reason for work and relationship invalidity and it may not be disease-specific to sprue, but rather to features of chronic illness, the authors wrote. Another study looked specifically at anxiety and depression levels in 441 adults who had celiac and  who had been on a gluten-free diet for at least a year. It found a probable anxiety disorder in nearly 17% of study subjects, which is significantly higher than the 6% found in control subjects. Women had a higher risk of probable anxiety disorder than men.?? Interestingly, living alone was associated with a reduced risk of having a probable anxiety disorder. The authors speculated that the problems of eating gluten-free in a shared kitchen and dealing with family members who arent gluten-free might contribute to financial and interpersonal problems, which in turn raise the risk for having an anxiety disorder. Although the authors didnt mention this, its also possible that living alone protects you against minor glutenings, which some people say heighten their anxiety. There is some evidence that supplementing B vitamins might help improve anxiety in diagnosed celiacs. A study conducted in Sweden found improvement in well-being and in anxiety and depressive symptoms in celiac adults who took folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 for six months.?? Neurological Symptoms Common With Gluten Sensitivity Although researchers only are beginning to define non-celiac gluten sensitivity, there already are indications that it may have a significant neurological component. University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research director Dr. Alessio Fasano says neurological symptoms such as brain fog occur in about one-third of people with diagnosed gluten sensitivity, a much higher percentage than is reported in celiac disease. Gluten-related depression and anxiety also occur at high rates, he says. Its not clear why this is soâ€"research into gluten sensitivity is just beginning, and many physicians dont even agree it exists yet. Dr. Rodney Ford, a New Zealand-based pediatrician and author of The Gluten Syndrome, postulates that gluten harms your nervous system directly, leading to the wide spectrum of symptoms experienced in both gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, including anxiety. A Word From Verywell Many people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity report symptoms of anxiety. However, theres good news: symptoms of anxiety seem to decline when you go gluten-free. Many people do report experiencing resurgences of anxiety symptoms when they get glutened, but these symptoms generally seem to be short-lived. Still, the medical studies do show that many people struggle with high levels of anxiety even when theyre eating gluten-free, possibly because of the stresses involved in maintaining the diet, especially when they live in a household shared with people who eat gluten. If youre experiencing high levels of anxiety despite eating strictly gluten-free, you might want to consider talking to your physician about itâ€"she might recommend you see a mental health professional for treatment that could include counseling and/or medication to ease your anxiety symptoms.