Celiac Disease Patients Have Higher Rates of Irritable Bowel-like Symptoms

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By Jefferson Adams

February 25, 2013
By Jefferson Adams • February 25, 2013

Celiac Disease Patients Have Higher Rates of Irritable Bowel-like Symptoms

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Celiac.com 02/25/2013 - Patients with celiac disease often report symptoms compatible with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, there haven't been any systematic studies regarding how adherence to a gluten-free diet might affect rates of irritable bowel syndrome-type symptoms in patients with celiac disease.

To better answer that question, a research team conducted a meta-analysis of celiac disease patients to determine rates of irritable bowel syndrome-type symptoms, and how those symptoms relate to a gluten-free diet.

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The research team included A. Sainsbury, D.S. Sanders, and A.C. Ford, of the Leeds Gastroenterology Institute at St James's University Hospital in Leeds, United Kingdom.

For their analysis, the team searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and EMBASE Classic to identify cross-sectional surveys or case-control studies reporting prevalence of IBS-type symptoms in adult patients (≥16 years old) with established celiac disease.

The team used case or control status and adherence to a gluten-free diet to determine the number of individuals with IBS symptoms.

The team analyzed data from 7 studies with 3383 participants.
They then calculated pooled prevalence and odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

They found that pooled prevalence of IBS-type symptoms in all patients with celiac disease was 38.0% (95% CI, 27.0%-50.0%).

People with celiac disease had higher pooled odds ratios for IBS-type symptoms than did control subjects (5.60; 95% CI, 3.23-9.70).

In patients who did not follow a strict gluten-free diet, the pooled odds ratios for IBS-type symptoms, compared with those who were strictly adherent, was 2.69 (95% CI, 0.75-9.56).

Patients who did not adhere to the gluten-free diet had higher odds ratios for IBS-type symptoms compared with controls (12.42; 95% CI, 6.84-11.75).

Such patients also had higher odds ratios compared with that observed for celiac disease patients who followed a strict gluten-free diet or controls (4.28; 95% CI, 1.56-11.75).

The results show that patients with celiac disease suffer IBS-type symptoms more frequently than control subjects, and that following a strict gluten-free diet might help to reduce those symptoms.

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Guest dappy

Posted March 4, 2013

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Before diagnosis, I was told I had IBS. I was afraid to leave the house due to uncontrolled diarrhea. However, even after having celiac disease confirmed first with blood work and then with a genetics test, and going completely gluten-free, it persisted. Only after finally starting a probiotic, Align, did it finally get back under control.

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Guest Ann Mitchell

Posted March 4, 2013

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I am gluten-sensitive and have bad constipation. Taking digestive enzymes to cure this, hopefully. At the moment, have to do laxatives to make me "go".

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Guest Susan

Posted July 3, 2013

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I was diagnosed with IBS years ago and had to take Bentyl to stop the attacks. NO ONE suggested that I might be gluten intolerant.

On my own research, I learned about gluten intolerance. I decided to go gluten-free for 3 weeks to see if I had any positive results. Here were my results:

IBS disappeared

Arthritis pain lessened

Some relief of fatigue, tho, with thyroid disease and lupus and fibromyalgia, there is a long way to go.

After going back on gluten products for only 3 days, arthritis pain increased to full-blown

IBS symptoms returned, back to Bentyl

Gluten intolerance is REAL. A gluten-free diet eliminated IBS completely... though, now I sometimes have constipation... which is easier to deal with and less painful.

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About Me

Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

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