gluten and lupus

[peonyprincess]

OK, a friend of mine read an article in a womans magazine that if you have lupus you should avoid gluten as it can bring on a flare. Now, I am not a big cereal and bread person, but I do from time to time enjoy toast and a bowl of cereal. I cannot say that I have ate these things then been down with a flare. Has anyone else heard of this or dealt with personally?

[Clare.T]

There are very few generalisations of this sort that appear to be universally valid.

Perhaps if studies could be done it might show that people with lupus tend to cope worse with gluten that people without lupus.

Some people with lupus also have gluten intolerance or frank celiac disease which is very under diagnosed in the USA Some people with lupus flare when they eat other food groups - dairy products, or cheese alone; the 'nightshade' family of fruit and veg; products with artificial sweeteners. Many find they feel better on a vegetarian diet and a few swear by a vegan diet.

:)

Clare