low carb diet and lessened methotrexate symptoms?

April 25, 2010

I went on a low carb diet three weeks ago to try and decrease the weight/stress

on my joints. The diet is going well, but it has had an unexpected wonderful

bonus! I had been dreading my weekly methotrexate injection (was 20 mg, but had

decreased to 12.5) because of the killer headaches. But, the first time I took

the mtx after starting the diet, NO headache whatsoever. I was skeptical at

first, thinking it was coincidence, but I have increased my dose back to 20 mg

over the last two weeks, and still no headache. WhooHoo!

I know a lot of people on this listserv eat very little red meat, so I was

curious as to whether my experience was common with any medical studies. (BTW,

I am mostly eating lean meats and fish, and lots of dairy, and lots and lots of

veggies and strawberries and blueberries for fruit. I also eat a lot of flax

meal.) Anyway, during an Internet search, I found the following study from the

UK in 2007:

In an initial study, 36 patients with active ankylosing spondylitis were put on

a low starch diet. After nine months, measures of inflammation were

significantly reduced and most of the patients reported a reduction in their

symptoms...

Like so many scientific discoveries, this one came about quite by accident. Dr

Alan Ebringer, a rheumatologist based here in the UK, put one of his patients on

a high-protein, low-starch diet for weight loss reasons. Little did he know that

that one small step would end up being a giant leap forward in treating a rare

autoimmune disease called ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (Ebringer A, C.

Clin Rheumatol 1996; 15 (suppl 1): 62).

AS is a chronic inflammatory disorder and type of arthritis, which mainly

affects the lower lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints, which are located either

side of your spine. One in 2,000 people in the UK suffer from the condition,

which is far more common, and often more severe, in men than it is in women.

Common symptoms include chronic inflammation, pain, and stiffness especially in

the lower back. In advanced stages of AS, fusion of the spine occurs, which can

lead to considerable disability.

Has anyone else ever had/heard of a similar experience?

Thanks, Dena

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