A case study of a wheat-free diet on autoimmune disease progression

Abstract

Background and Aims: Autoimmune disease encompasses a broad range of over 80 conditions for which only three have an identified environmental trigger. Gliadin is the trigger in celiac disease, a condition that has been linked to other autoimmune conditions including Crohn's disease and type I diabetes (T1D). The purpose of this study was to investigate case studies of autoimmune patients who employed a wheat-free or Paleo-style diet (WFP) to manage their conditions. Methods: A descriptive case study was performed that utilized questionnaires administered online and medical records from autoimmune disease patients who had consumed a WFP diet. Results: Fifty-seven patients were evaluated in the study (mean age 37.3 yrs., SD 10.1), including 23 males and 34 females, 24 of whom provided medical records. Thirty of the 57 volunteers demonstrated signs of disease improvement while consuming a WFP. The rates varied across conditions with eight of eight Crohn's disease patients experiencing remission, while three of four T1D patients exhibited signs of improvement. Five of 15 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or undifferentiated and multiple connective tissue disorders worsened while on the diet. Conclusions: Patients with single organ autoimmune diseases previously linked to increased intestinal permeability showed the greatest improvement after consuming a WFP. The results of these case studies warrant further controlled research examining the effects of wheat consumption on Crohn's disease and T1D.