Yes, Sjögren's syndrome (SS) commonly causes bowel problems, affecting the entire digestive tract and leading to issues like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain, acid reflux, and difficulty swallowing, often linked to dryness, nerve dysfunction (dysautonomia), or associated conditions like celiac disease or microscopic colitis.
The main symptoms are dry eyes and mouth, but other parts of the body may be affected as well, with many people reporting fatigue and joint and muscle pain. In addition, the disease can damage the lungs, kidneys, and nervous system. Sjögren's disease predominantly affects women.
Gastrointestinal disease may occur in 25% of patients with Sjögren's and include the following conditions and their occurrence (if known)1,2,3: dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) gastritis (inflammation of the gut); ~80% gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying); 30-70%
Problems related to Sjögren's syndrome
They include: eye problems, such as a sore on the eye or itchy eyelids (blepharitis) other immune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. conditions that affect digestion, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Many people think that Sjögren's disease only affects adults — but children can get Sjögren's disease too. What's more, it's likely that childhood Sjögren's is underdiagnosed. That means there are likely many children with Sjögren's disease who don't know they have it.
Today, researchers better understand the likelihood of a person to develop Sjögren's syndrome if they're related to someone who has it: The odds are not necessarily higher, but they are more likely to develop an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, which is a risk factor for Sjögren's syndrome.
Nipocalimab is the first and only investigational therapy granted U.S. FDA breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of adults living with moderate-to-severe Sjögren's disease [news release]. Johnson & Johnson. 2024 Nov 11. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act ().
Probiotics. Sjögren syndrome patients with dry mouth have less diverse oral microbiomes and an increased risk of dental problem. Probiotic lozenges may improve oral health.
Secondary Sjogren's syndrome (sSS) is a medical condition that occurs in individuals with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis. It predominantly affects females rather than males.
Hashimoto's Disease. Hashimoto's disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects your thyroid gland. It can cause lower-than-normal levels of thyroid hormone in your body. This affects several areas of your body and causes symptoms like fatigue, weight gain and constipation.
Corticosteroids, a class of drugs that includes prednisone, are fast-acting and may be highly successful in halting severe symptoms of Sjögren's and/or a flare.
Start with five minutes of aerobic exercise daily (e.g. walking, biking, running, elliptical, treadmill) and increase the duration by an additional two-to-three minutes each month up to a maximum of 25 minutes daily. If you have a heart or lung condition, consult your doctor first.
Sjögren syndrome is a chronic systemic rheumatic disease that is characterized by excessive dryness of the eyes, mouth, and other mucous membranes. White blood cells damage glands that make moisture, and sometimes other organs can be damaged. Dry mouth and dry eyes are the hallmark symptoms of this syndrome.
Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms of Sjögren's disease. Multiple joints are painful, usually episodically with periods of joint pain, known as “flares”, followed by periods of little or no joint pain. Tenderness and swelling of the joints, when present, are indicative of inflammatory arthritis.
The presence of Sjögren's disease appears to aggravate the symptoms of vaginal atrophy. This may be manifested by thinning of the pubic hair, loss of vaginal rugae, decreased vaginal moisture, and narrowing of the vaginal introitus.
Patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) frequently have irritable bowel like symptoms (IBS). Some have celiac sprue.
Cardiologists warn against probiotics for heart patients due to risks like infections (endocarditis) in vulnerable individuals, potential negative interactions with heart medications, and the lack of strong human data proving consistent cardiovascular benefits, with some early concerns even showing increased mortality in critically ill patients. While probiotics show promise for gut-heart axis health, they pose risks, especially for immunocompromised patients or those with underlying heart conditions, necessitating doctor supervision.
Vitamin C for Sjogren's Syndrome
It is also important for maintaining healthy skin and mucous membranes, which are often affected in individuals with Sjogren's Syndrome. A study found that Vitamin C supplementation improved the symptoms of Sjogren's, including dryness in the mouth and eyes.
Greater cumulative estrogen exposure was inversely associated with risk for primary Sjögren's syndrome, suggesting that more extensive sex hormone exposure might be protective against the development of this autoimmune disease.
Sjögren's disease can cause numbness or burning of the face, called “trigeminal neuralgia.” Pain in the back of the throat, which may worsen while swallowing, is called “glossopharyngeal neuralgia.” Patients with trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgia can have agonizing mouth and facial pain.
Violations of the small intestine or colon are rarely reported in the SS. Only a few cases of Sjögren's syndrome associated with Crohn's disease (CD) have been reported in the literature [2].
The International Sjögren's community has officially changed the disease name Sjögren's Syndrome in favor of Sjögren's Disease to better indicate the serious and systemic nature of the disease. The term “secondary Sjögren's” was also discarded.
Nipocalimab is the only investigational treatment to be granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SjD (November 2024). It also received Fast Track Designation by the U.S. FDA earlier this year in April 2025.
Nuts, leafy greens, fatty fish, avocados, olive oil, whole grains, and foods prepared with turmeric, garlic, or ginger have proven to benefit some individuals. To alleviate symptoms, some patients avoid red meat, alcohol, smoking, processed or fried foods, and refined grains as well as safflower, corn, and canola oils.