Sarcoidosis

What Is Sarcoidosis?

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]arcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease characterized by hard granulomas and inflammation of the alveoli in lungs that occurrs in 80% of patients.

Alveoli are the tiny one cell thick round structures that are clustered at the ends of air passages in the lungs where oxygen from air inhaled is exchanged for carbon dioxide from blood which is breathed out.

Q: What are granulomas?

A: Granulomas are collections of macrophages (white blood cells) that targeted and enclosed but failed to destroy a foreign substance that entered the body.  In turn, the macrophages become encased by other immune cells and fibroblasts and collagen. They can occur in any organ.

Presently, the etiology, or cause, of sarcoidosis is unknown, although it is thought the predisposition is genetic with a local immune mechanism. This disease has flares when active and remissions when symptoms subside.

Referral to a specialist is important for proper treatment and monitoring. The main treatment for severe active sarcoidosis is prednisone, a type of steroid that reduces inflammation in the body. In most people, prednisone relieves symptoms within a couple of months, although most people need to take prednisone for 12 months or longer. Long-term use of prednisone, especially at high doses, can cause serious side effects. Side effects include bone loss, elevated blood sugar, and high blood pressure.

When wheezing and coughing are a problem, inhaler devices are used to deliver medicine into the lungs in order to help open the airways.¹

Ibuprofen is prescribed if sarcoidosis is causing joint pain. Steroid creams are prescribed for skin problems.

Sarcoidosis affects 10 to 20 person per 100,000.

What Is Sarcoidosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

• Relationship between sarcoidosis and celiac disease. Sarcoidosis is an associated immune disorder in celiac disease.
• Relationship between sarcoidosis and gluten The association between celiac disease and other immune disorders may be due to the sharing of a common genetic background, such as HLA antigens. However, in a very large study, involving 909 patients with celiac disease, it was found that the development of immune disorders in celiac disease was clearly related to the duration of exposure to gluten.²
• Relationship between sarcoidosis and diet. Improvement of skin lesions while on a gluten free diet and relapse each time diet stopped is described.³
• Relationship between sarcoidosis and erythema nodosum. Sarcoidosis is a common cause of erythema nodosum, which is an inflammatory skin disorder having painful, hard, red nodules that is an associated disorder of celiac disease.

How Prevalent is Sarcoidosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Prevalence of 4% celiac disease occurrence in patients with sarcoidosis is reported,⁴ and sarcoidosis occurrence in 1.3% of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and 1.8% in celiac disease is reported.⁵

What Are The Symptoms Of Sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis that is not asymptomatic is marked by these symptoms:

• Fatigue.
• Shortness of breath.
• Non-productive dry cough.
• Night sweats.
• Anorexia.
• Weight loss.
• Lymphadenopathy.
• Pain or irritation of the eyes in some because of inflammation of the uveal tract (called uveitis) caused by autoimmune antibodies produced in sarcoidosis.  The uveal tract located in the front of the eye has a rich supply of blood vessels.
• Joint pain, swelling, or bone cysts in some.
• Hypercalciuria in some.
• Lumps, sores or areas of discoloration in the skin. Itchy rash.
• May progress to death in 20% of patients which results from heart and lung failure.

How Does Sarcoidosis Develop In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

• Sarcoidosis results from shared immune mechanism with celiac disease, but the relationship is unclear.⁶

Does Sarcoidosis Respond To Gluten-Free Diet?

Yes. Sarcoidosis responds to gluten free diet.³

6 Steps To Improve Sarcoidosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity:

• [dropcap]1[/dropcap]Remove the Trigger. Maintain a Strict, Nutritious Gluten Free Diet:

[box type=”shadow” ]Treatment. This condition responds to the complete elimination of gluten, which is the required treatment that improves both sarcoidosis and gut health.

• Gut health is the foundation to restore ALL health. Restored health will enable you to maintain a strict gluten free diet, just as other life tasks will be easier.
• A strict gluten free diet means removing 100% of wheat, barley, rye and oats from the diet.
• Cutting out bread and other obvious sources of gluten is not good enough for recovery. Even 1/8th teaspoon of flour or bread crumb is enough to sustain the inflammation that is damaging your small intestine, causing increased permeability (leaky gut) and allowing undigested gluten to enter your body where it can damage structures and function, and instigate immune inflammatory responses.

Correct Your Individual Nutritional Needs.

• Eat foods that can replenish missing nutrients. Find them under NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES.
• Take nutritional supplements as needed. Find them under NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES.

Recovery. You should begin to feel better within a week and notice more energy as inflammation subsides and the  absorbing cells that make up the surface lining of your small intestine are better able to function.

• Intestinal lining cells are replaced every 5 days. The healing process is like sunburn where the damaged surface layer of skin sloughs off and is replaced with new normal cells.
• Leaky gut normally resolves in two month after starting a gluten free diet and brings about a big improvement in health. Improvement in intestinal permeability precedes morphometric recovery (cell appearance and structure) of the small intestine in celiac disease.⁷
• The intestinal lining may take up to a year to heal.[/box]

• [dropcap]2[/dropcap] Reduce Inflammation. Foods to Eat and Foods Not to Eat:

Because gluten is inflammatory, eliminate OTHER inflammatory foods from your diet to reduce an additive effect to gluten. At the same time, try to eat foods that reduce inflammation (anti-inflammatory).

[box type=”shadow” ]Here Are Major Inflammatory Food Types That Reduce Healing:

• Damaging Foods. In susceptible persons, includes corn, dairy (cow), and soy. Lactose, the sugar in any animal milk disrupts intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁸
• Allergenic Foods. Includes foods that trigger the immune sytem to produce IgE antibodies. Allergy testing is the usual way to discover these offending foods.
• Shelf Stable Processed Foods. Includes any that contain additives and preservatives. Look for them on the nutrition label of the box or package. Additives and preservatives also disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁸
• Fats. Limit deep fried foods, trans-fats, saturated fats (animal fat/butter), and EXCESSIVE omega-6 fatty acid oils like corn oil. Rancid fats, sodium caprate (a medium chain fat), and sucrose monester fatty acid (a food grade surfactant) induce significant disruption of the intestinal barrier that causes leaky gut.⁸.
• Excessive Refined White Flours (bran layer removed). Includes products made from them such as cookies, bread, cakes, pies. Bran contains the vitamins and minerals that metabolize grains and slows the otherwise rapid entry of sugar from their digestion into the bloodstream. Also disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁸
• Refined Sugars.  Includes white sugar, corn fructose and high fructose corn syrup.
• Certain Spices. Includes paprika and cayenne pepper which disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁸
• Alcohol and Caffeine. Disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁸[/box]

[box type=”shadow” ]Here Are Important Anti-Inflammatory Food Types to Promote Health:

• Fruits. Contain ample amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals which are naturally occuring components in plants that detoxify toxins, carcinogens (reducing the risk by 50%) and mutagens.
• Non-Starchy Vegetables. Support intestinal integrity and provide ample amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Includes green leafy vegetables such as lettuce and kale, also onion, broccoli, garlic, and others.
• High Quality Complex Carbohydrates. Provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber while boosting serotonin levels to help you relax and feel calm. Includes whole grains, legumes, and root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, red beets, and others.
• Antioxidants. Protect the body from inflammatory oxidant molecules that continually occur and help us handle stress and reduce irritability. Includes vitamin C-containing foods such as lemon, grapefruit, apricot, Brussels sprouts and strawberries, and others. Also, includes vitamin E-containing foods such as nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, and others. Cocoa is good, too.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Balance opposing omega-6 fatty acids and bad fats. Fish sources includes tuna, salmon, cod, and others. Plants sources include flax, chia seeds, canola oil, and others.
• Probiotics. Supply normal microbes needed for colon health and health of the body such as these fermented foods: yogurt, kefir, and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.
• Prebiotics/ High Fiber Foods.  Food with fiber keeps our population of colonic microbes healthy.
• Protective Herbs and Spices.  See below #6 below for examples.[/box]

• [dropcap]3[/dropcap] Information Sheet You Can Take to Your Doctor or Other Health Professional:

Click here.

• [dropcap]4[/dropcap] Manage Your Medications Safely:

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Certain medications used to treat sarcoidosis cause nutritional deficiencies that complicate celiac disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about this possible adverse effect if you are taking any of the drugs listed below. Do not stop prescribed medications without supervision.

 This is not a complete listing.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES disrupt intestinal permeability which complicates celiac disease.

• Corticosteroids (Prednisone, Medrol®, Aristocort®, Decadron) deplete Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Selenium, Chromium, Phosphorus.
• NSAIDS (Motrin®, Aleve®, Advil®, Anaprox®, Dolobid®, Feldene®, Naprosyn® and others) deplete Folic acid.

BRONCHODILATORS

• Inhaled corticosteroid inhalers (Flovent, Pulmicort and others) that are breathed in on a daily basis as a long term therapy to reduce inflammation in airways deplete potassium, calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins.

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• [dropcap]5[/dropcap]Nutritional Supplements To Help Correct Deficiencies:

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The type and quantity of nutritional supplements that may be needed depend on which nutrients are deficient.

• Multivitamin/mineral combination that provides 100% once a day is useful to improve overall nutrient levels. This is a safe dose, but always check with your doctor to avoid interactions with medications.
• B-Vitamin Complex as prescribed to restore folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 following blood test for status.
• Calcium citrate is the best absorbed of calcium supplements. Calcium carbonate is a poor choice.
• Vitamin D3 as prescribed following blood test for status.
• Chelated magnesium as prescribed, but do not take at same time as calcium because they compete for absorption.
• Zinc as prescribed following blood test for status.
• Chromium and/or selenium following blood test for status.
• Potassium MUST NOT be taken as a supplement EXCEPT by prescription following blood test for status. Overdose can be deadly.

Storage Note: Store container tightly sealed, away from heat, moisture and direct light to avoid loss of potency. That is, in a safe kitchen cabinet – not in the bathroom or on the kitchen table.[/box]

• [dropcap]6[/dropcap]Manage Natural Remedies: 

[box type=”shadow” ]Hydration:

• Eight glasses of water are recommended per day unless there is a contraindication such as kidney or heart disease. The Institute of Medicine recommends approximately 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of total water, from all beverages and foods, each day for women and 3.7 liters (125 ounces) daily of total water for men.
• If you are thirsty, drink water. Add fresh, squeezed lemon to water. Lemon is anti-inflammatory, alkalizing and provides vitamin C.
• Hydration Test: Urine should be pale yellow. Fingertips should be plump, without pruning but this may not be reliable when fingers are swollen with edema. Lips should be plump, without puckering. The feeling of thirst can be unreliable.
• What is wrong with soda, coffee, tea, and alcohol? These drinks are dehydrating, increase acid, and deplete nutrients.[/box]

[box type=”shadow” ]Carminatives. The following  anti-inflammatory plant sources called carminitives help heal the digestive tract. They also tone the digestive muscles which improves peristalsis, thus aiding in the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestine to relieve digestive colic and gastric discomfort.

Carminative Food Remedies:

• Raspberry.
• Carrot is also a cleansing digestive tonic.
• Grape is also bile stimulating and a cleansing remedy for sluggish digestion and laxative.
• Redbeets also stimulate and improve digestion and are easily digested.
• Cabbage also stimulates and improves digestion and is also a liver decongestant.
• Lettuce also stimulates and improves digestion and is also an alterative, meaning it improves the function of organs involved with the digestion and excretion of waste products to bring about a gradual change.
• Potatoes are antispasmodic (due to atropine like properties) and a liver remedy.

Carminative Herb Remedies:

• Sage is also a digestive, astringent, bile stimulant and energy tonic that heals the mucosa.  Drink as tea or use in cooking.
• Chamomile, lemon balm, and fennel, (as a tea) also help relieve nervous tension.
• Parsley also relieves indigestion.
• Rosemary as a tea and in cooking also is a nervous system tonic for stress and fatigue, bile stimulant, and can relieve headaches and indigestion.
• Thyme is also soothing remedy useful for stimulating digestion of rich, fatty foods.

Carminative Spice Remedies:

• Cloves are also antispasmodic.
• Nutmeg is also useful for indigestion.
• Ginger.[/box]

[box type=”shadow” ]Exercise Helps:

Exercise improves circulation and rids the body of toxins.

• Walking is aerobic exercise that reconditions the whole body to improve stamina. Read more about Exercise and Fitness.
• Weight training builds muscle. Read more about Exercise and Fitness.
• Stretching improves flexibilty. Read more about Exercise and Fitness.

Note: Exercise is important, but the amount and type of exercise undertaken depends on your health. Your first priority is to heal. [/box]

What Do Medical Research Studies Tell About Sarcoidosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

RESEARCH STUDY SUMMARIES

“Diseases associated with dermatitis herpetiformis.” This study investigating the prevalence of celiac disease in patients with sarcoidosis demonstrated moderate increase and susceptibility to sarcoidosis and celiac disease is linked to HLA-DR3, DQ2. Estimation of EMA test is recommended and should be restricted to those with susceptible haplotypes.⁴

“Diseases associated with dermatitis herpetiformis.” This study investigating the occurrence of associated diseases in a cohort of 305 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis  followed for a mean of 10 years compared with results from a cohort of patients with celiac disease demonstrated sarcoidosis in 1.3% of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and 1.8% of celiac disease patients.⁵

CASE REPORT SUMMARIES

“Celiac disease associated with cutaneous sarcoidosic granuloma.” This case report of a patient with sarcoidosis describes improvement of dermatological lesions while on a gluten free diet and relapse each time diet stopped. Report refers to same reaction to gluten free diet in a patient with lung involvement.⁶

Sources:

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [↩]
2. La Villa G, Pantaleo P, Tarquini R, Cirami L, Perfetto F, Mancuso F, Laffi G. Multiple immune disorders in unrecognized celiac disease: a case report. World J Gastroenterol. 2003;9(6):1377-1380. [↩]
3. Loche F, Bazex J. Celiac disease associated with cutaneous sarcoidosic granuloma. La Revue de Medicine Interne. 1997;18(2):975-8. [↩] [↩]
4. Rutherford RM, Brutsche MH, Kearns M, Bourke M, Stevens F, Gilmartin JJ. Prevalence of coeliac disease in patients with sarcoidosis. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Sep 2004;16(9):911-5. [↩] [↩]
5. Reunala T, Collin P. Diseases associated with dermatitis herpetiformis. British Journal of Dermatology. Mar 1997;136(3):315-8. [↩] [↩]
6. Loche F, Bazex J. Celiac disease associated with cutaneous sarcoidosic granuloma. La Revue de Medicine Interne. 1997;18(2):975-8. [↩] [↩]
7. Cummins AG, Thompson FM, Butler RN, et al. Improvement in intestinal permeability precedes morphometric recovery of the small intestine in coeliac disease. Clinical Science. Apr 2001;100(4):379-86. [↩]
8. Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2003;18:479-91. [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]