Migraine headaches as well as joint pain are common problems for people suffering from undiagnosed and/or untreated celiac disease. Ibuprofen and Naproxen are many times the go-to pain relievers of choice for millions of people — according to one NIH study, this may be worsening their situation:

“All the conventional NSAIDs studied were equally associated with small intestinal inflammation apart from aspirin and nabumetone which seem to spare the small bowel.

Another interesting take away from the NIH study was this:

“This is the first study to reveal that ibuprofen aggravates exercise-induced small intestinal injury and induces gut barrier dysfunction in healthy individuals. We conclude that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs consumption by athletes is not harmless and should be discouraged.”

How does this relate to gluten, celiac disease, and other food intolerances?

When the intestine is permeable and inflamed, infectious or toxic substances “leak” through the lining into the blood stream. This may cause a negative autoimmune response, and inhibits proper digestion and nutrient absorption. It can also lead to a number of other ailments, including diabetes, asthma, and even heart failure.

An analysis of studies claim drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen may cause serious intestinal problems such as celiac disease. Dr. Alessio Fasano discusses. Duration: 4:07

Sources: The Daily Beast and MSNBC

About Chris Armstrong

I created the Celiac Handbook website in 2004. It has evolved into a portal for new (and old) ideas related to healthy and sustainable gluten-free living and avoiding the usual pitfalls of the gluten-free junk food market.

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