Milk, Gluten and Autism

Autistic children often have gastrointestinal tract disturbances such as abdominal pains and diarrhea. For a while lack of the GIT hormone,  secretin, was thought to be a cause, and children where treated with this hormone but repeated studies have shown that injectingn secretin is not helpful. Horvath and Perman   suggested: ”Recent clinical studies have revealed a high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms, inflammation, and dysfunction in children with autism. Mild to moderate degrees of inflammation were found in both the upper and lower intestinal tract. In addition, decreased sulfation capacity of the liver, pathologic intestinal permeability, increased secretory response to intravenous secretin injection, and decreased digestive enzyme activities were reported in many children with autism. Treatment of digestive problems appears to have positive effects on autistic behavior. These new observations represent only a piece of the unsolved autism "puzzle" and should stimulate more research into the brain-gut connection.”

Torrent et al    described lymphocytic enteritis in children with regressive autism with increased mucosal lymphocyte density, crypt cell proliferation, and epithelial deposition of IgG with complement C1q. To me this means the children have food allergy until proven otherwise. The first food suspect would be gluten.

My approach is to assume that GIT symptoms are food problems until proven otherwise. The treatment is proper diet revision using the Alpha Nutrition Program. The program is designed to eliminate milk and gluten foods along with other high risk foods. In addition, the program creates a nutritionally superior diet with foods that offer many additional benefits. Alpha ENF and/or BMX are elemental nutrient formulas that can solve nutrient intake problems.

One food theory is based on the knowledge that the digestion of casein and gluten produces opioid peptides (exorphins) that can adversely affect brain function.  Diet revision by removing casein and gluten  became popular. Knivsber, Reichelt and Nodland   suggested: “Autism is a developmental disorder for which no cure currently exists. Gluten and/or casein free diet has been implemented to reduce autistic behavior, in addition to special education, since early in the eighties. Over the last twelve years various studies on this dietary intervention have been published in addition to anecdotal, parental reports. The scientific studies include both groups of participants as well as single cases, and beneficial results are reported in all, but one study. While some studies are based on urinary peptide abnormalities, others are not. The reported results are, however, more or less identical; reduction of autistic behavior, increased social and communicative skills, and reappearance of autistic traits after the diet has been broken prerequisite for the successful application of diet in this special group of children.”

I prefer immune mediated explanations of the disease. The immune attack, as in cerebellar ataxia, might occur because of molecular mimicry. Antibodies generated by gluten and/or milk proteins or peptides will attack the brain.  It is possible that immune attacks on the brain interfere with brain development in the critical first 2 or 3 years. If this is true, the crucial time for dietary intervention would be from early pregnancy (by changing mother’s diet during pregnancy) to the end of the second year. I doubt that dietary intervention after the diagnosis has been made will fix the disability but may limit further disability and will often improve the behavior of autistic children.

Further Reading: Gluten Problems and Solutions, a discussion of gluten allergy in all manifestations with special instructions for Celiac Disease.  Also read Feeding Children. Alpha Education Series

Nutrition influences brain function in a variety of ways. The brain disturbances of an alcoholic, unstable diabetic, pellagra victim, or elderly patient with vitamin B12  and/or folic acid deficiency are all recognized examples of nutritional mental illnesses. Vitamin deficiency is always a concern with brain dysfunction, and the risk of deficiency increases as mental disorder increases. B-vitamins play a critical role in brain function. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a notable cause of numbness, tingling, incoordination, and impaired cognitive function. Niacin deficiency presents as dementia, dermatitis, and diarrhea. Thiamine deficiency causes cognitive dysfunction and is fully expressed in malnourished alcoholics as Wernicke's psychosis. Vitamin-mineral supplementation is a desirable component of nutritional therapy, although high doses of individual nutrients are only desirable in acute deficiency states. Our emphasis is always on correct proportioning of nutrient intake - the right molecules at the right place at the right time.

Sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium are the key mineral ions in the brain and must be maintained in critical balance. Low calcium levels produce tetany, painful muscle contractions with dizziness, confusion, and even seizures. Hyperventilation causes a sudden drop in blood calcium levels and produces tetany. Magnesium can reduce brain irritation and block seizures during alcohol withdrawal and toxemia during pregnancy. Extra calcium and magnesium tend to have a calming effect and are safe to take in supplemental form. Potassium intake is often deficient and increased potassium intake is desirable. Sugars and sodium salts are used in moderation. Protein intake is carefully considered because of the many possibilities for ingested protein to cause nervous system disease through biochemical and immune misadventures.

Most food-input problems can be avoided by using an elemental nutrient formula. We can expect brain function to settle into a more stable, more functional state within 10 days on an ENF even in disturbed patients. If mental aberrations are severe, many months of careful feeding using an ENF plus meticulously selected and prepared food may be required. With improved mental clarity, better cognitive functioning, and more stable moods, cravings and compulsive eating are less likely to upset nutritional balances.

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The Human Brain in Health and Disease, 2010, is a Persona Digital Book. We encourage readers to quote and paraphrase topics from Human Brain in Health and Disease published online and expect proper citations to accompany all derivative writings. The author is Stephen Gislason and the publisher is Persona Digital Publications. The date of publication is 2010. The URL to the book description is Human Brain