Gluten Free Works: TREATMENT GUIDE Get well and stay healthy living gluten free
Page Contents
Courtesy encyclopedia.lubopitko-bg.com
What Is Loss of Smell?
Loss of smell is a disorder that is characterized by impaired olfactory sense, or olfaction.
Partial or complete loss of smell can result from malnutrition, chronic rhinitis, polyps, chronic sinusitis, medications, old age, head trauma, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Q: How do we smell things?
A: The sense of smell is complex. It involves specialized olfactory cells that are chemoreceptors, that is, they detect odor molecules in the air we breathe in through our nose and transmit the information to the olfactory area of our brain, called the olfactory cortex, by way of the olfactory tract. Olfactory cells are located in the top of the nasal cavity.
The ability to smell strongly contributes to the ability to taste, so that individuals with loss of smell have great difficulty in perceiving the taste of food. The result is loss of the appetite for and pleasure from food.
What Is Loss of Smell In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
- Loss of smell is a classic symptom of celiac disease and can be a presenting feature.
How Prevalent Is Loss of Smell In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Loss of smell has increased frequency in untreated celiac disease.
What Are The Symptoms Of Loss of Smell?
- Loss of smell is marked by inability to detect chemical odors which may lead to loss of appetite and weight.
How Does Loss of Smell Develop In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
- In celiac disease, loss of smell results from zinc deficiency due to malabsorption.1 New evidence indicates that vitamin D deficiency also diminishes the sense of smell.2
- Nutritional deficiencies are common before treatment with gluten free diet. In 2013, a study evaluating the nutritional status of 80 Dutch patients with newly diagnosed celiac disease showed 87% to have at least one nutrient deficit. Of these patients, 67% had zinc deficiency.3
- Vitamin D deficiency is reported in case studies to cause loss of smell and supplementation with vitamin D3 restored the sense of smell.2
Does Loss of Smell Respond To Gluten-Free Diet?
Yes. Loss of smell resolves on gluten free diet adequate in zinc and vitamin D.
6 Steps To Improve Loss of Smell In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity:
- 1Remove the Trigger. Maintain a Strict, Nutritious Gluten Free Diet:
- 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.4
- The intestinal lining may take up to a year to heal.
- 2 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).
- Damaging Foods. In susceptible persons, includes corn, dairy (cow), and soy. Lactose, the sugar in any animal milk disrupts intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.5
- 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.5
- 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.5.
- 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.5
- 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.5
- Alcohol and Caffeine. Disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.5
- 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 lettuce, kale, 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.
- 3 Information Sheet You Can Take to Your Doctor or Other Health Professional:
- 4 Manage Your Medications Safely:
Certain medications deplete zinc and/or vitamin D that can cause loss of smell. 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.
ANTACIDS / ULCER MEDICATIONS
- Pepcid®, Tagamet®, Zantac® deplete Vitamin D, Zinc.
- Magnesium and Aluminum Antacid preparations (Gaviscon®, Maalox®, Mylanta®) deplete Vitamin D, Zinc.
ANTIBIOTICS disrupt intestinal permeability which complicates celiac disease.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES disrupt intestinal permeability which complicates celiac disease.
ANTICONVULSANTS
- Phenobarbital and Barbituates; and Dilantin®, Tegretol®, Mysoline®, Depakane/Depacon® deplete Vitamin D, Zinc.
ANTIVIRAL AGENTS
- Zidovudine (Retrovir®, AZT and other related drugs) deplete Zinc.
CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS
- Antihypertensives (Catapres®, Aldomet) deplete Zinc.
- ACE Inhibitors (Capoten®, Vasotec®, Monopril® and others) deplete Zinc.
CHOLESTEROL DRUGS
- Colestid® and Questran® deplete Vitamin D.
DIURETICS
- Thiazide Diuretics (Hydrochlorothiazide, Enduron®, Diuril®, Lozol®, Zaroxolyn®, Hygroton® and others) deplete Zinc.
- Loop Diuretics (Lasix®, Bumex®, Edecrin®) depletes Zinc.
- Potassium Sparing Diuretics (Midamor®, Aldactone®, Dyrenium® and others) deplete Zinc.
FEMALE HORMONES disrupt intestinal permeability which complicate celiac disease.
- Oral Contraceptives (Norinyl®, Ortho-Novum®, Triphasil®, and others) deplete Zinc.
- Oral Estrogen/Hormone Replacement (Evista®, Prempro®, Premarin®, Estratab® and others) deplete Zinc.
WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS THAT BIND FAT also interfere with absorption of some nutrients.
- Zenicol (Orlistat®) depletes Vitamin D.
- 5Nutritional Supplements To Help Correct Deficiencies:
The type and quantity of nutritional supplements that may be needed depend on which nutrients are deficient.
- Multivitamin/mineral combination 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.
- Vitamin D3 as prescribed following blood test for status.
- Chelated zinc as prescribed but do not take at same time as calcium because they compete for absorption.
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.
- 6Manage Natural Remedies:
- 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.
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.
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.
What Do Medical Research Studies Tell About Loss Of Smell In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
RESEARCH STUDY SUMMARIES
“Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are highly prevalent in newly diagnosed celiac disease patients.” This study aiming to assess the nutritional and vitamin/mineral status of current “early diagnosed” untreated adult celiac disease patients in the Netherlands found that vitamin/mineral deficiencies are still common in newly “early diagnosed” celiac disease patients, even though the prevalence of obesity at initial diagnosis is rising. Eighty newly diagnosed adult CD-patients were included and a comparable sample of 24 healthy Dutch subjects was added to compare vitamin concentrations.
Nutritional status and serum concentrations vitamins and minerals including zinc were determined before prescribing gluten free diet. Almost all celiac disease patients (87%) had at least one value below the lower limit of reference. Specifically, zinc deficiency was observed in 67% of the celiac disease patients. Vitamin/mineral deficiencies were counter-intuitively not associated with a (higher) grade of histological intestinal damage or (impaired) nutritional status. Extensive nutritional assessments seem warranted to guide nutritional advices and follow-up in celiac disease treatment.6
CASE REPORT SUMMARIES
“A possible correlation between vitamin D deficiency and loss of smell: 2 case reports.” This case report presents 2 cases of diminished olfaction that improved with increasing serum levels of vitamin D3. Both patients were under the care of medical and chiropractic physicians for various complaints. A 47-year-old hyposmic woman was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency who incidentally noticed a progressive return of her sense of smell while taking vitamin D supplements as prescribed by her medical doctor. A 34-year-old anosmic woman noticed a direct relationship with her ability to smell and vitamin D3 supplementation.
Treatment for the first patient consisted of vitamin D supplementation of 10,000 IU a day. Her serum D3 levels increased substantially over a period of 8 months, at which time she reported a marked improvement in her sense of smell. The second patient was prescribed 50,000 IU of vitamin D a week; and she reported an increased ability to smell, although only the strongest of odors.7
- Krause’s Food, Nutrition, & Diet Therapy. 10th Edition. Kathleen Mahan, Sylvia Escott-Stump. 2000. W.B. Saunders Company. [↩]
- Kruse, R and Cambron, J. A possible correlation between vitamin D deficiency and loss of smell: 2 case reports. J Chiropr Med. 2011 December; 10(4): 310–315. [↩] [↩]
- Wierdsma NJ, van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren MA, Berkenpas M, Mulder CJ, van Bodegraven AA. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are highly prevalent in newly diagnosed celiac disease patients. Nutrients. 2013 Sep 30;5(10):3975-92. doi: 10.3390/nu5103975. [↩]
- 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. [↩]
- 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. [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
- Wierdsma NJ, van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren MA, Berkenpas M, Mulder CJ, van Bodegraven AA. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are highly prevalent in newly diagnosed celiac disease patients. Nutrients. 2013 Sep 30;5(10):3975-92. doi: 10.3390/nu5103975. [↩]
- Kruse, R and Cambron, J. A possible correlation between vitamin D deficiency and loss of smell: 2 case reports. J Chiropr Med. 2011 December; 10(4): 310–315. [↩]
