Author: NutriScape

Has your celiac disease been unresponsive despite your dedicated efforts to stick to a gluten-free diet (GFD)? You’re far from alone in this predicament. It’s a confusing and frustrating scenario that numerous individuals with celiac disease find themselves in – diligently following a GFD yet continuing to experience both gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms. Recent research suggests the source of these persistent symptoms might be hidden in plain sight: an allergy to the common metal, nickel.

Nickel: An Unexpected Culprit in Gut Health

While you may be familiar with nickel as a frequent cause of skin allergies, particularly related to jewelry, it may come as a surprise to learn that it can also affect the health of your gut. Some people have a predisposition to a condition called allergic contact mucositis when they consume foods high in nickel. This reaction can result in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms, creating an additional layer of discomfort for individuals already battling with gastrointestinal issues.

Prevalence of Nickel Sensitivity and Its Impacts

Recent studies suggest that nickel sensitivity, or Allergic Contact Mucositis, might be more common than previously thought, affecting more than 30% of the general population. But how does one determine if they have nickel sensitivity? There’s a test for that! The nickel oral mucosa patch test is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that can identify if you’re one of the many who react to nickel in your diet.

Linking Nickel Allergy and Celiac Disease

In a recent study, scientists closely examined a group of 102 celiac disease patients who remained symptomatic despite adhering to a GFD. These individuals were in remission based on blood tests and gut biopsies, yet they continued to suffer from relapsing symptoms. During the course of the study, an intriguing pattern emerged: 20 out of the 102 patients tested positive for nickel allergy via the oral mucosal patch test, suggesting the presence of Allergic Contact Mucositis. [PMC7468824]

The Role of Gluten-Free Foods in Nickel Exposure

Here’s the conundrum: as individuals with celiac disease, our dietary choices are primarily governed by the need to avoid gluten. However, many common gluten-free alternatives, like corn, can be high in nickel. Consequently, while diligently adhering to a GFD to manage celiac disease, you might unknowingly be exposing your body to an excess of nickel, thereby triggering Allergic Contact Mucositis and its related symptoms.

Other IBS-like symptoms can be the result of the intake of high FODMAPS foods. Some foods can be both high nickel and high FODMAPS. Here’s a helpful diagram:

Low-Nickel Diet: A Promising Approach to Managing Celiac Disease

The same study that discovered the high incidence of Allergic Contact Mucositis in celiac patients also found significant symptom improvement when these patients switched to a low-nickel diet. This points to a potentially beneficial dietary strategy for those with celiac disease who are also sensitive to nickel. [PMC7468824]

Consulting an Allergist

If you believe that nickel sensitivity might be contributing to your persistent celiac disease symptoms, discuss this with your doctor. Ask about the nickel oral mucosa patch test and whether a low-nickel diet could potentially help manage your symptoms. And talk to a dietitian because it’s important to take a personalized approach to managing health conditions, taking into account individual dietary needs, lifestyle factors, and medical history.

Please note that these test strips may come with instructions written in Japanese according to reviews.

Conclusions and Next Steps

This research provides a beacon of hope for those struggling with persistent celiac disease symptoms despite following a GFD. If nickel sensitivity is a contributing factor, then a low-nickel diet could be the missing piece of the puzzle in achieving symptom relief. It’s essential to remember that while these results are indeed promising, they’re preliminary. Extensive and comprehensive studies are needed to further investigate and confirm these initial findings.