Does gluten in your diet cause arthritis symptoms? There is a connection.
There is a difference of course between arthritis-like symptoms, and actually having arthritis.
We also have to distinguish between having a gluten allergy, and celiac disease.
Gluten Allergy and Arthritis
If there is a direct connection between having a gluten allergy and arthritis, it is not a consistent one. Read the next section on celiac disease to get the complete thought. For now we’re focusing on an allergy, not other forms of gluten intolerance.
As with any allergy, a gluten allergy may have any number of symptoms, which are generally specific to the individual.
It is possible that you may have arthritis-like symptoms from eating gluten.
If this is the case, you will no doubt have a whole host of other symptoms.
If you suspect you have a gluten allergy, go on a gluten free diet and see if your problems clear up.
Some gluten allergy symptoms may clear up quite quickly, others may take longer. With luck, arthritis symptoms will disappear with everything else.
It is possible to have a gluten allergy and completely unrelated arthritis.
Celiac Disease and Arthritis
Ignore everything you just read in the previous section if you have celiac disease.
Celiac disease is completely different. It is associated with many autoimmune diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis is one of them.
Going on a gluten free diet is essential if you have celiac disease because there are so many complications that may present in just about any organ in the body.
A gluten free diet should stop the advance of arthritis that is caused by gluten and celiac disease, but it will probably not reverse the damage already done.