<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
Hi Greg and All,
 
> Could someone please help me with these two things?
>
> (2) Does anyone know what correlation there is beteen celiac disease and
> Multiple Sclerosis?  DO Celiacs have a greater chance of getting MS than
> the average person?
 
There are several schools of thought on this. Drs. Cooke & Holmes in
_Coeliac Disease_ 1984; Churchill Livingstone, NY
say that 10% of celiacs have neuropathic symptoms. Many appear to be
associated with demyelination. Fineli et. al. echo that figure in "Adult
celiac diseae presenting as cerebellar syndrome" _Neurology_ 1980; 30:
245-249.
 
A new school has emerged, on the heels of the following report:
 
Hadjivassiliou, et. al. "Does cryptic gluten sensitivity play a part in
neurological illness?" _Lancet_ 1996; 347: 369-371
 
The indication here is that many previously unexplained neurological
illnesses may well be manifestations of gluten intolerance, about half of
which are celiac disease.
 
Cooke & Holmes come right out and express some of their frustration with
neurologists for ignoring the potiential for neuropathic celiac.
 
All I can say for sure is that I was told by a specialist that I could
only expect to lose more of my hearing, and I needed to look after the
25% of normal that was left, in conversational frequencies. And I used to
wear bifocals. I now have, at less than 2 years on the diet (am strict)
75% of normal hearing in conversational frequencies, and I don't need any
visual correction.
 
I am posting to the whole list, as there were two posts today on this
issue.
 
I hope that is helpful.
Best Wishes,
Ron Hoggan