Researchers Seek to Understand the Connections Between Migraine Headaches and Celiac Disease

Celiac.com 10/17/2022 - Headache is one of the main clinical symptoms and complaints of people with celiac disease, and often it manifests as migraine. The roots and origins of migraine as it relates to celiac disease are complex, and still poorly understood. The term 'dysbiosis' refers to a disruption of the microbiome that triggers an imbalance in the gut microbiota, which leads to changes in their functional composition and metabolic activities, or changes to their distribution within the gut microbiome.

A team of researchers recently set out to give a narrative summary of the literature on celiac disease's neurological symptoms, particularly migraines, and to assess potential connections with dysbiosis.

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The research team included Hodan Qasim, Mohamed Nasr, Amad Mohammad, Mosab Hor, and Ahmed M. Baradeiya. They are variously affiliated with theDepartment of Internal Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, SAU; the Ophthalmology, Palestinian Medical Council, Ramallah, PSE; the Department of Ophthalmology, Children Retina Institute, Los Angeles, USA; the department of General Internal Medicine, Mansoura general hospital in Mansoura, Egypt; and the Research center, Fresno clinical research center, Fresno, USA.

In an effort to explain the connection, researchers have proposed various mechanisms involving the gut-brain axis, including: the interaction of chronic inflammation with inflammatory and vasoactive mediators; the modulation of the intestinal immune environment of the microbiota; and a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. 

The research article refers to a known gut-brain pathway that can influence neurological illnesses such as migraines. Some data suggests that gut microbiota can influence the brain-gut axis, and may impact nociceptive behavior and brain function

A layer of columnar intestinal epithelial cells separates the 100 trillion bacteria present on the gut surface from the host. The key pathophysiological processes connected to migraine are thought to work partly due to the gut microbiota composition, which also plays a significant role in the gut-brain axis. 

Potential pathways include neurotransmitters, hormones, and inflammatory chemicals originating from the microbiome. However, further research is required to fully understand the basic specific factors which influence the process. 

The team's review aims to give a narrative summary of the literature on celiac disease's neurological symptoms, particularly migraines, and to assess any potential associations to dysbiosis, an imbalance in the microbiome that may be related to celiac disease.

Read more at Cureus.com