Alternative Health Blog

Here’s an intriguing follow-up to Tuesday’s post about the increased awareness about celiac disease, the body’s adverse reaction to gluten in which the small intestine is damaged. A new study reveals that individuals with persistent mouth sores may be suffering from the disease, prompted by the gluten protein in wheat, rye and barley.

Moreover, mouth sores might be the only way for a doctor to tell if a patient needs to be tested for celiac problems. 

"It has been reported that in five percent of celiac disease patients, aphthous stomatitis [persistent canker sores or open ulcers] may be the sole manifestation of the disease," writes Dr. Farhad Shahram, lead researcher of a group from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran, in the professional journal BMC Gastroenterology.

Canker sores are common during periods of stress and have also been associated with viral infections and other food. The nearly 250 people in the study suffered through major canker sore bouts at least three times in one year. Measuring these individuals for celiac disease markers afforded the researchers an opportunity to make the link.

Those patients identified as gluten-reactive all enjoyed a “significant improvement” in frequency and severity of canker sores within two to six months of starting a gluten-free diet. 

 Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.