Such sensitivity can manifest in a lot of different ways. We have shown that it can present with neurological dysfunction such as co-ordination problems and inflammation of the peripheral nerves. Hadjivassiliou's group studied a small group of digestive disorder caused by gluten sensitivity. Nine of the patients then began eating a gluten-free diet. The headaches disappeared in seven patients and got better in two.
Further research is necessary, they write.
If the connection proves true, removing gluten from the diet may be the key to resolving the headaches and other symptoms caused by the protein in sensitive people. Doctors should be aware of all the ways gluten sensitivity can affect patients, Hadjivassiliou says, adding that gluten sensitivity can be diagnosed through a blood test. Since foods containing gluten are an important part of a nutritious diet, people should not try to treat headaches by cutting out vital foods. One headache expert says that line of research should be continued, but he says it is unlikely to hold the cure for most people. Hadjivassiliou's study appears in the February issue of the journal Neurology .