Gluten and restless leg.

[Lunatha]

For those wiling to explore the diet route, this has worked for me. I’ve had restless leg since a child, I’m now drug free and and restless leg free - 8 months of remission. I also stopped eating sugar and processed foods. I eat natural fats, (no seed oils) no grains or legumes… basically anything that converts to sugar. This may sound restrictive, but given the horrendous symptoms of restless leg, I think it’s a fair exchange - sanity.

glutenfreesociety.org/glute...

[Eryl]

Works for me as well, it's because gluten speeds up the rate of absorption of sugars and starches and intensifies their glycaemic index which leads to systemic inflammation and hypersensitive nerves.

[TheShrike in reply to Eryl]

HI Eryl, fascinating. Would you have any research on the link between sugars and RLS? THis implies that if we can eliminate sugars, then the gluten should be less of an issue.

[Eryl in reply to TheShrike]

Not specifically between sugar and RLS but there are many studies linking sugar to inflammation, Just google 'sugar and inflammation'. Also wrth looking at this as starch breaks down into glucose: youtu.be/UbBURnqYVzw(Not working as expected?)

[Amrob]

Hi, how long did it take for you to see a difference?I tried a strict GF diet for 6 months but didn't notice any difference. The rest of my diet at the time was relatively clean but did include carbohydrates.

[Lunatha in reply to Amrob]

I stopped taking all medications around the same time I changed my diet. The relief from restless leg was gradual, maybe a bit over a month or two.

[Joolsg]

That's fantastic. I'm delighted for you. Diet does seem to be a trigger for some people.

[RestlessMe]

I am already gluten-free and have been for probably 10 years maybe more. I eat very few process foods, but I do have a weakness for chocolate.

It is brilliant however that it’s work for you.

[BoldMove]

I have Celiac disease and have been gluten free a lot longer than I've had RLS. I take my iron supplements and get a complete iron panel done every 6 months and it's good. I take both the gentle iron and every few days heme. My iron levels are good. I'm glad your diet works for you, but we're all different. It does not work for me; I wish I could say otherwise.

[Lunatha in reply to BoldMove]

It's a strange syndrome indeed - what works for one person may not be the answer for all. Tis a shame...

[SueJohnson in reply to BoldMove]

Are you taking any medicines for your RLS?

[BoldMove in reply to SueJohnson]

No. Tried Mirapex. It worked for 6 days then left me with RLS than I started with. No more drugs for me.

[SueJohnson in reply to BoldMove]

Mirapex is a terrible drug. It used to be the first line treatment but is no more. Is your RLS under control?

[BoldMove in reply to SueJohnson]

No. I've not found anything that works beyond riding in a car for 4 or more hours.

[SueJohnson in reply to BoldMove]

I can understand your reluctance to take any drugs after your experience with Mirapex, but gabapentin which is now the first line treatment can completely control your symptoms and provide blessed relief. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know about it including the latest treatment and refer your doctor to it as s/he is not uptodate on it or s/he would never have prescribed Mirapex at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

[Lunatha in reply to SueJohnson]

I was taking clonazepam, I was on that for 20+ years. Then I was prescribed Pregablin but had unpleasant side effects, one of which lead to a diagnosis of upper airway respiratory syndrome. Now, no drugs at all..

[SueJohnson in reply to Lunatha]

Have you had your ferritin checked?

[67Waterman]

Can I ask what you do for "bread". I eat gluten free bread (only a slice a day) and was also eating organic sun flower bread (until I read that sunflower seeds / oils are no good for you). Help.

[Eryl in reply to 67Waterman]

There isn't much wrong with sunflower seeds in moderation as long as they are natural, The problems arise with refined oils. p.s. I don't eat bread.

[67Waterman in reply to Eryl]

Ahh. Thank you!!

[Lunatha in reply to 67Waterman]

I don't eat bread... I did think about making bread with almond flour, but haven't got around to that.

[BoldMove in reply to 67Waterman]

Eaten in excess, sunflower seeds will likely contribute to weight gain and associated side effects. However, when eaten moderately, they have a plethora of positive impacts on one's health.

[Wobby]

I absolutely agree with you just wish I’d done things soonerI’ve recently changed my eating habit both to loose a little weight. I now have a heathy breakfast and a light lunch around 13.00 hrs. In the evening I eat very little, mainly fruit and perhaps a slice of bread but no more. Since doing this my RLS has all but disappeared and I’m loosing my stomach fat, so much so that I feel much better. I believe my RSL was directly connected to my tummy being upset and full when I went to bed. I’ve suffered with RLS for a number of years, but the last 3 months have seen a sea change in my condition. I just hope this is helpful to fellow sufferers of this strange but awful condition

[Eryl in reply to Wobby]

You could improve your diet by reducing the fruit intake and cutting out the bread as the gluten content speeds up the absorption of sugars and starches and intensifies their glycaemic index, this increases gut and systemic inflammation which causes the tummy and the RLS.

[Hidden in reply to Wobby]

Yes, I believe this is the greatest, but still unrecognized treatment for RLS. Put another way - get 100% of your calories (hopefully healthy ones) during the daylight with a light dinner. So easy for me to say, so hard to do in practice. But it works so…

[Merny5]

Lunatha , this is fabulous news! About a year ago I began an anti-inflammatory diet. It did not eliminated my RLS symptoms by any means but the intensity has eased. I wish you the best of luck with this new way of life. Fingers crossed!

[Wanted-sleep]

1. IF+Keto+weed+kratom with bearable RLS vs 2. Eventual augmentation with 24/7 RLS+insomnia (managed with meds and complicated by weight gain)

Like 1. as being happy though pricey

[Lunatha in reply to Wanted-sleep]

I agree with you...

[Eryl in reply to Wanted-sleep]

Other things can be inflammatory like refined seed oils so don't give up the quest, it's such relief to lie in bed without a hint of rls.

[GuillaumeL]

It's great to hear that! From what I've read in scientific papers, RLS can be a comorbidity for people with Celiac disease. In two studies with adults suffering from Celiac disease, 30 to 35% have been found to suffer from secondary RLS , that's huge! (see the references below if you're interested) Considering this, trying a gluten free diet is definitely worth a shot just to see if CD was the cause and RLS was the secondary condition.

However, it's worth noting that the reverse is not true - RLS is not exclusively caused by CD. For some people suffering from primary RLS (for which no cause has been found except genetics), a gluten free diet, sugar free, PUFA free diet will make no difference.

Manchanda, Shalini, Charles R. Davies, and Daniel Picchietti. 2009. “Celiac Disease as a Possible Cause for Low Serum Ferritin in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome.” Sleep Medicine 10 (7): 763–65.

Moccia, Marcello, Maria Teresa Pellecchia, Roberto Erro, Fabiana Zingone, Sara Marelli, Damiano Giuseppe Barone, Carolina Ciacci, Luigi Ferini Strambi, and Paolo Barone. 2010. “Restless Legs Syndrome Is a Common Feature of Adult Celiac Disease.” Movement Disorders 25 (7): 877–81.

Weinstock, Leonard B., Arthur S. Walters, Gerard E. Mullin, and Stephen P. Duntley. 2010. “Celiac Disease Is Associated with Restless Legs Syndrome.” Digestive Diseases and Sciences 55 (6): 1667–73.

[Lunatha in reply to GuillaumeL]

Thank you for all the info above. Very interesting as my serum ferritin has been constantly very low, it shot up when I stopped eating gluten.