A low nickel diet may be helpful for refractory Celiac Disease symptoms, according to this new study, published in the journal Nutrients. Especially if other contributors such as positive food IgE, SIBO, IBD, H pylori, and lactose intolerance have been ruled out and correct adherence to a gluten-free diet is ensured.
Interesting points from this paper:
- Nickel allergic contact mucositis may have a prevalence of >30 percent in the general population (according to European data; can be diagnosed by a nickel oral mucosa patch test)
- In this study group, a low nickel diet, in addition to gluten exclusion, improved 20 out of the 24 measured symptoms, 10 of which were statistically significant
- Dietary nickel content may be increased in the average gluten-free diet due to the increased consumption of higher-nickel foods such as corn
- Nickel allergic contact mucositis, linked to the ingestion of nickel-rich foods, has been previously linked to IBS-like disorders as well as extraintestinal symptoms