What if the cause of those frustrating leg twitches is something you can’t see or touch… and is rarely a diagnosis you’d receive at the doctor’s office?
We’re talking about systemic inflammation (inflammation relating to the whole body).
54 diseases, syndromes and conditions have been reported to cause and/or exacerbate RLS – all interconnected by inflammation.
The fact that 89% of RLS-associated conditions are associated with inflammation and/or immune changes have led researchers to develop 2 possible theories in the RLS – Inflammation connection:
Systemic inflammation can contribute to an iron deficiency in the brain:
Inflammation can lead to the production of IL-6, an inflammatory cytokine which can stimulate hepcidin production.
Hepcidin is the main hormone involved in the regulation of iron and increased levels can lead to decreased serum iron levels. The result? Decreased availability of iron to the brain.
Systemic inflammation can trigger autoimmune disorders associated with RLS.
RLS is associated with Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjögrens syndrome, Scleroderma, Celiac disease and Crohn’s disease – all autoimmune diseases plagued by systemic inflammation.
RLS is present in up to one third of MS cases and is also common in those with Crohn’s disease – a disease associated with iron deficiency, inflammation, and bacterial overgrowth. One study of 272 Crohn’s disease patients found 30% were affected by RLS.
The bottom line is this – we have to address the factors in our life that cause inflammation and the best place to start is a damaged gut.
A LEAKY GUT – THE MISSING LINK IN RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME?
You might wonder what the gut has to do with that uncomfortable feeling in your legs.
A damaged or leaky gut is a breeding ground for inflammation – the very inflammation that can lead to RLS.
A leaky gut allows conditions like SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to wreak havoc on the body and contribute to things like RLS.
One study found 69% of RLS patients had SIBO while 28% also suffered from IBS symptoms (i. e. gas, cramping, bloating, and changes in bowel habits).
SIBO can lead to systemic inflammation and autoimmune changes (which can result in the nerves being attacked in RLS) and SIBO induced inflammation can increase hepcidin (the main hormone responsible for regulating iron).
No matter which way we look at it, inflammation is the common denominator.
So, how do we stop the inflammation that can lead to Restless Leg Syndrome?
Considering the overwhelming amount of research on the topic of systemic inflammation and a leaky gut, your gut is too important to be ignored.
However, a large majority of the medical community has yet to accept the role of the gut in the fight against RLS.
THE LEAKY GUT – AUTOIMMUNE CONNECTION
If you’ve been keeping up with the latest information in natural health, you already know it’s nearly impossible to ignore a leaky gut as part of the cause and solution to autoimmune conditions like RLS.
Alessio Fasano, M.D. has been on the forefront of recent autoimmune disease research and published a paper titled “Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Diseases.”
His findings present the idea that in order for an autoimmune disease to develop, 3 conditions must all exist together:
- A genetic predisposition to autoimmunity (i.e. BTBD9 gene in RLS)
- An exposure to the environmental trigger (i.e. Iron Deficiency)
- Increased intestinal permeability (a.k.a. Leaky Gut Syndrome)
For those with Restless Leg Syndrome, healing the gut means getting to the root cause so you can stop chasing your symptoms.
Healing a leaky gut is one factor that’s in our control and it can be done step-by-step with the right plan.
HOW TO TURN OFF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
Overcoming Restless Leg Syndrome requires a multifaceted approach to heal the gut and decrease inflammation.
Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician, stated “all disease begins in the gut,” and some 2,000 years later Fasano and many other leading experts agree.
Ancient and current wisdom both suggest that powerful healing must begin in the gut.
Jordan Reasoner is a health engineer and author. He was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2007 and almost gave up hope when a gluten-free diet didn’t work. Since then, he transformed his health using the SCD Diet and started HealthyGut.com to help others naturally heal stomach problems. https://healthygut.com/articles/overcome-restless-leg-syndrome-naturally
The Restless Legs Blog (or how I tried to convince Big Pharma that my legs are better) 
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