Can Gluten Cause Headaches?

If you suspect gluten may be contributing to your headaches, a few simple steps may help you identify potential triggers and better understand your symptoms. You can consider:

• Eliminating gluten from your diet for a period of time
• Keeping a food and symptom diary to track possible connections between certain foods and headaches

If you regularly experience headaches after eating foods made with wheat, barley, or rye and have not been diagnosed with a gluten-related condition, it may help to speak with a healthcare provider about your symptoms.[1,6]

Your healthcare provider may recommend trying a gluten-free diet while also performing tests to rule out conditions like celiac disease or a wheat allergy. This evaluation may include blood tests, skin tests, or additional diagnostic procedures.[1,6]

In people with celiac disease, blood tests may detect antibodies associated with gluten-related immune activity. In some cases, however, celiac disease is confirmed through an endoscopic procedure that allows a healthcare provider to examine and biopsy the small intestine for signs of damage.[1,6]

Category	Gluten Intolerance	Celiac Disease
Underlying cause	Not fully understood, but may involve difficulty processing certain components of gluten-containing foods and inflammation in the digestive tract	An autoimmune condition in which gluten triggers the immune system to attack the small intestine
Digestive symptoms	Bloating, gas, stomach discomfort, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea	Diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatty stools, bloating, and nutrient malabsorption
Symptoms outside the digestive tract	Brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, depression, skin rash, and headaches	Fatigue, mouth sores, brittle nails, weight loss, mood changes, pale skin, and neurological symptoms like migraines
Relationship to headaches	Some people report fewer headaches or migraines after removing gluten from their diet	Headaches and migraines are more strongly associated and may be linked to immune activity and the gut-brain axis
Impact on the small intestine	Does not appear to cause the same intestinal damage seen in celiac disease	Can damage the intestinal lining over time and interfere with nutrient absorption
Diagnosis	Typically identified based on symptoms and response to a gluten-free diet after ruling out other conditions	May involve blood antibody testing and an intestinal biopsy for confirmation
Treatment approach	Managing symptoms through dietary changes and avoiding trigger foods	Lifelong strict gluten-free diet and treatment for related nutritional deficiencies when needed

Gluten intolerance and celiac disease are separate conditions, though they can share overlapping symptoms, including headaches. If you experience headaches after eating gluten, understanding the differences between these conditions may help you better identify potential triggers and know when to seek guidance from a healthcare provider.

Gluten Intolerance Symptoms

The exact cause of gluten intolerance, sometimes called non-celiac gluten sensitivity, is still not fully understood. Some researchers believe certain people may have difficulty digesting specific carbohydrates, allowing partially digested food to ferment in the digestive tract and contribute to symptoms like discomfort, bloating, and gastrointestinal distress.[1]

Other research has explored the role of intestinal health and inflammation. For example, some evidence suggests that people with gluten intolerance may have increased intestinal permeability, sometimes referred to as a "leaky gut," which may allow bacteria and other substances to pass into the bloodstream and potentially trigger inflammation

People with gluten intolerance may experience symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Anemia
• Anxiety
• Bloating
• Brain fog
• Constipation
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Gas
• Headaches
• Joint pain
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Skin rash

While researchers are still studying the exact connection between gluten and headaches, a 2021 review found that following a gluten-free diet may help reduce headache and migraine frequency in some people.[3]

That said, headaches and migraines appear to be more common in people with celiac disease.[3]

Celiac Disease Symptoms

Celiac disease affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide, though only around 30% of people with the condition have been formally diagnosed.[4] It is also more common among people with certain autoimmune conditions, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

In people with celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response that attacks the lining of the small intestine. Over time, this immune activity can damage the intestinal lining and interfere with nutrient absorption, potentially leading to nutritional deficiencies and other health complications.[3,6]

As a result, people with celiac disease may experience symptoms such as:

• Abnormal periods
• Brittle nails
• Cold hands
• Dental enamel erosion
• Growth delays in children
• Low muscle tone
• Mood changes
• Mouth sores
• Pale complexion
• Weakness and fatigue
• Weight loss

Damage to the small intestine can also contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms, including:[3,6]

• Anemia
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fatty stools
• Stomach pain
• Weight loss

Headaches and migraines are also recognized symptoms of celiac disease.[6] Researchers believe this connection may involve the gut-brain axis—the communication network between the digestive system and the brain—which plays an important role in immune activity and inflammation.[7]

Migraines are thought to involve inflammatory and vasoactive compounds that affect blood vessels in the brain. Researchers also believe the gut microbiome may influence immune responses and nervous system function, which could help explain the relationship between celiac disease and migraines. Although the exact mechanism is still being studied, current research supports a clear association between the two.[7]

Further, Beyond Celiac reports that people with celiac disease who adopted a strict gluten-free diet experienced fewer migraines, and when migraines did occur, they were often less severe.[8]

Headaches and migraines can be a common symptom in people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. While the connection between gluten and headaches is still being studied, many people report symptom improvement after adopting a strict gluten-free diet. Identifying and avoiding trigger foods may help reduce the frequency and severity of headaches while also supporting digestive health.

You can also consider taking Everlywell's Food Sensitivity Test, which measures your body’s immune response to 96 foods, or the Comprehensive Food Sensitivity Test, which measures responses to 204 foods. Both tests may help support an elimination diet approach. After receiving your lab-reviewed results, you can connect with a telehealth provider to discuss potential next steps and personalized care options.

Explore Everlywell’s collection of at-home health tests or schedule a telehealth appointment to get started.

There is currently no cure for gluten intolerance, but symptoms can often be managed through a strict gluten-free diet. Avoiding gluten may help reduce digestive symptoms as well as headaches and migraines in some people. A healthcare provider may also recommend probiotics as part of a celiac diet plan to support gut health and digestion.[1]

For people with celiac disease, treating headaches and neurological symptoms generally involves addressing the underlying immune response and intestinal inflammation. In addition to maintaining a strict gluten-free diet, treatment may include:[6]

• Nutritional supplements to help correct vitamin or mineral deficiencies
• Corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation in certain cases