Complications in pregnancy like miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature
births can be associated with undiagnosed
Celiac Disease (CD), which can be difficult to diagnose, especially when there are no signature
symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating or extensive weight loss. CD is a
disease in which chronic failure to digest food is triggered by hypersensitivity
of the small intestine to gluten.
So, what is it about gluten that causes infertility? As the disease quietly
progresses, it ravages the small intestine, leading to prolonged nutrient
mal-absorption. Over the long-term, when nutrients from foods consumed
aren't absorbed by the body, a number of health issues can occur.
Many gluten intolerant women with infertility are afflicted with
Anemia. Anemia can wreak havoc on a woman's reproductive system, leading
to an erratic menstrual cycle, missed periods, and interrupted ovulation.
All of these dramatically reduce the chances of conception.
In an earlier post we talked about the connection between gluten in the
diet and "maturation" of
dendritic cells, particularly, how the maturation of dendritic cells (the messenger cells
of the immune system) needed to be avoided in order to allow the embryo
to turn off the immune response of the mother, and allow for successful
implantation. At our practice we are using some of the newer therapies
such as Neupogen (G-CSF) to PREVENT maturation of the dendritic cells
at the uterine lining. If dendritic cells are able to mature they will
take information about the embryo to the lymph node and present it in
such a way that the mother's immune system mounts a response
against the embryo.
What is the latest on CD and gluten intolerance? Research is showing that
women who have unexplained infertility because of CD, who change their
diets to gluten free, can possibly reverse their symptoms.
If you suspect CD or gluten sensitivity you should be tested for it. At
Braverman IVF & Reproductive Immunology we do test for CD. If you
have it, we will recommend that you begin a gluten free diet several months
before becoming pregnant.