Gluten-Free and Improvement of Ejection Fraction

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:20 pm

Over a year ago I ran across a study by the Mayo Clinic(?) which indicated that heart patients who went GF improved their ejection fractions. I was talking to my brother this weekend, and he was highly skeptical. I had sent this to him when I found it, but he doesn't remember it, and I can't find it. He has beaten the odds, having been diagnosed with congestive heart failure 11 years ago, but he lives in an an uneasy balance between cardiac issues and stomach issues.

I am pretty sure I posted about it here, but my usual search-disability has kicked in and I can't find it. Can anyone help me?

Thanks!

Post by **tex** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:34 pm

Marliss,

I couldn't find any posts that seem to fit that topic. The only related study that I can find was done in Italy:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article ... ool=pubmed

The diet seemed to be a big help. It boosted the ejection fraction, and resolved anemia issues. That kinda suggests that gluten-sensitivity can contribute to cardiovascular issues.

Tex

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:43 am

Marliss,

Can't recall any specific reference, but my hubby's ejection fraction improved after he began eating GF in sympathy with me! Nothing surprises me about the benefits of GF. One member here found her hearing improved significantly after going GF. Another was able to decrease her thyroid medication. And so on..........

Hugs,

Polly

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:00 pm

Apparently I did not post it here. But--drum roll, please--I found it! I sent my father and my brother e-mails in early 2011 after I received my Enterolab results. Both of them disregarded my e-mails (typical

), but I wondered if I had sent the link in one of them. I had.

The link was broken, which may be why I could not find it, or I was not using the right search term, i.e., cardiomyopathy. Anyhow, I was able to figure out Mayo's filing system from the broken link, and found it again:

Here's the abstract: http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/ar ... 7/abstract

Cardiomyopathy associated with celiac disease is a serious and potentially lethal condition. However, with early diagnosis and treatment with a gluten-free diet, cardiomyopathy in patients with celiac disease may be completely reversible.

Here's the full PDF: http://download.journals.elsevierhealth ... 631017.pdf

The chart on page 2, Literature Review (1966-2003) of Celiac Disease–Associated Cardiomyopathy, was what I was remembering. Notice that the guy who was non-compliant had his ejection fraction drop.

Tex, thanks for that Italian study, and Polly, thanks for letting me know about your husband. My brother is five years older than me, and all my life has taken a protective role towards me. Talking to him about his health and getting him to think that I actually have something of merit to say is a little like bearding a lion in his cave. I want him to feel better and to live longer, but I don't want to set off his pacemaker. I will have to choose my words carefully, and pray he takes the information to his cardiologist and his cardiologist is open to it.

Post by **tex** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:13 am

Thanks for the link,
Tex

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:20 am

Marliss and Polly,
My hubby tried GF in sympathy too (and for weight loss), and now he's hooked. His seasonal allergies have been extremely mild this year, he stopped snoring, he lost some weight, his headaches stopped, and his gassiness went away. Now when he gets gluten (he's definitely not as careful as me), he gets unbelievable gas for several days!! Yikes! His mother had the same symptom, but he never complains of bloating -- maybe men don't feel bloating or see it like women do?

Post by **tex** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:48 am

Zizzle wrote: -- maybe men don't feel bloating or see it like women do?

I couldn't ignore it, because I couldn't button the top 2 or 3 buttons of my Levis, whenever I was reacting, and sometimes it was worse than that.

Tex

TXBrenda · Post by **TXBrenda** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:11 pm

My eye sight improved the first year I started the GF diet. When my optometrist commented on this, I told him the only thing was the GF diet. I remembered someone on the old forum (if I remember correctly) reported they had noticed improved muscle tone after going GF. I forget how many muscles he told me we have around our eyes but it is more than 2 or 3. Isn't the heart considered a muscle? Just a thought.