Gluten, casein and how they cause problems

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Mechanism behind gluten/casein’s ill effects

Gluten and casein have a very similar structure, and both of them break down into opiate-like substances, which in normal circumstances are then broken down further. If this further breakdown does not occur, the opioids may leak into the bloodstream.

Gluten and casein have both been implicated in many disorders, both mental and physical. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley and some other closely related grains, while casein is found in milk and dairy products.

Gluten accounts for about 80% of the protein in certain grains, and casein makes about 80% of the protein in milk. Gluten is actually a combination of two proteins, gliadin and glutenin.

In the course of digestion, glutenin breaks down into gluten exorphins, gliadin into gliadorphin, also called gluteomorphin, and casein into casomorphin aka caseomorphin. In the normal course of events, these would break down further into amino acids. It’s hypothesized that in certain individuals this final step in the digestive process does not occur, or is incomplete.

Gliadorphin, gluten exorphins and casomorphin are all opioid peptides – “which mimic the effect of opiates in the brain[1]“. The brain contains opioid receptors, currently three are recognised, called delta (OP1), kappa (OP2) and mu (OP3). OP1 and OP3 are thought to be the basis for physical dependence. All of them have analgesic effects when activated, OP1 has antidepressant effects, OP2 is sedative and OP3 can cause euphoria[2].

There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence that excluding gluten and casein from the diet produces symptoms very similar to withdrawal from drugs, which makes sense in light of the chemistry involved if the hypothesis [that gluten and casein are not correctly digested, resulting in opioid peptides being released into the bloodstream] is correct.

Since these peptides are produced in the intestine, there is a question as to how they get into the bloodstream, rather than being excreted. Some have proposed a controversial diagnosis, Leaky Gut Syndrome, but there is little support for this in the conventional medical sector. However, this should not be taken to mean that it does not exist, as many ideas which were strongly disputed by conventional medicine a few years ago have now become mainstream.

Further Reading

Research shows autistic symptoms improve on a gluten and casein free diet
Who needs a gluten free, dairy free diet?
Drugs used to treat autism
Gluten and dairy free recipe book

Exported: 23 Nov 2011

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Category: Gluten facts

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Drugs used to treat autism

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Major tranquillizers used to keep autistic kids docile

When I researched the medications doctors have been using to “treat” autism I was shocked. These are dangerous drugs, many of which have terrible side effects which can be permanent. In my view, they are very much a last resort, even for adults (and in many cases I’m not even sure they’re suitable for that). Surely, almost anything else must be worth trying first. Especially since, according to many parents all over the world, a change in diet works better than any of the drugs listed!

Medical professionals have been looking for a drug to treat autism for a long time with little success. Although there have been some glimmers of hope, mostly these have been dashed when tests were completed.

Something I’ve noticed is that doctors don’t seem to take the concept of dignity into account when dealing with autism or other “mental disorders”. Here are some of the drugs they’ve tried. To me they read like something out of the Hammer House of Horror.

Chlorpromazine (Largactil), Haloperidol (Serenace, Haldol) and Thioridazine (Melleril) are major tranquillizers originally developed for the treatment of schizophrenia. They frequently cause severe uncontrolled movements of the mouth and tongue which need to be treated with other drugs, such as Orphenadrine (Disipal) or Procyclidine (Kemidrin) — originally developed to treat Parkinson’s Disease.

Chlorpromazine also causes photo-sensitivity, so that patients taking it have to stay out of the sun to avoid getting badly burned.

Lithium, another drug originally developed to treat schizophrenia, may sometimes be prescribed to aggressive patients to “even out” autistic mood swings.

Because autistic people have been shown to have elevated levels of serotonin, the slimming drug Fenfluramine (Ponderax) and the anti-depressants Clomipramine (Anafranil) and Fluoxetine (Prozac) (all of which affect serotonin levels) have been tried, with mixed results.

Diazepam (Valium), a highly addictive sedative normally prescribed to treat anxiety, has been tried, but seems to have little effect except as a calmative in emergency situations. This is a good thing, as one of its known side effects is impaired learning.

Carbamazepine (Tegretol), which is generally prescribed to control epilepsy, is sometimes used to reduce mood swings.

Clinical trials of Naltrexone, a drug which works to lower opioid levels in the body, are currently underway. Early results indicate that dosage may be quite critical. If this drug is shown to work, it may be simpler to remove the source of the excess opiates (as discussed in the main text, production of opiates in the body is often caused by improper digestion of gluten and/or dairy products), though this would also, of course, remove the potential for profit.

Even beta blockers — normally used to treat high blood pressure — have been prescribed in what seems like a last ditch attempt to find anything that might work.

I have spent quite a bit of time visiting with adults on many of these medications, and they are not happy memories. Personally, I would do pretty much anything to avoid my child being prescribed any of these drugs, if it could possibly be avoided. Some of the side effects can be permanent, and there are known long term health hazards.

Even so, many medical professionals prefer to prescribe these extremely dangerous substances when there is an alternative treatment available which has no side effects. Why?

The alternative treatment I’m referring to is the gluten/casein free diet. This is controversial, but many parents report very good results. It’s surely worth a try?

The idea that it is better to pump young children full of drugs rather than try something less dangerous (which may actually do something other than tranquillize them) seems like a no-brainer to me. The only reason I can think of for not recommending this approach is that it puts the power in someone else’s hands – the parents – and removes it from the doctor. It seems unbelievable, but I can’t think of a single reason that would otherwise account for it.

Further Reading

Research shows autistic symptoms improve on a gluten and casein free diet
Gluten, Casein and how they cause problems
Who needs a gluten free, dairy free diet?
Gluten and dairy free recipe book

Exported: 23 Nov 2011

Comments made on the knol site

All drugs should be monitored with extreme care

The efficacy of psycho-active drugs such as Naltrexone (even in low doses) tends to change over time. In particular when used with young people, whose bodies undergo massive changes over a short period in the course of growing up, it’s important to keep in mind that the dosage may need to be changed up or down, or the drug stopped altogether if unacceptable side effects start to take place.

Having said that, if Naltrexone in low doses does help, that is good news for many parents, I’m sure. I still recommend sticking to a casein and gluten free diet, as this appears to be helpful with or without drugs.

Frann Leach – 11 Jan 2011

Low Dose Naltrexone Great treatment, but not stand alone…

Hi,

The lower dose Naltrexone (3.0 – 4.5) depending on age and weight has proven to be very helpful to children with Autism. The woman who supports this in research & has written a book about using LDN with a cassien/gluten free diet is Jaquelyn McCandless, MD. She also recommends sugar free as well.

LDN is not a stand alone treatment. It helps put the immune system back into balance. However, her book – Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fourth Edition, details all of these treatment alternatives and has had good results. She continues with her research.

I would recommend looking into it if you have a child with Autism. There is a yahoo groups forum if you want to check it out – Autism_LDN@yahoogroups.com. She is very helpful to families with autism issues and has had fantastic results.

If you buy her book from her website, she has a group where she answers questions for parents. For FREE!! You have to buy the book from her though, not from amazon or anywhere else.

Best wishes to those who are on this path. The LDN has made a HUGE difference for me and I will take it forever.

Marygrace Coneff – 23 Dec 2010

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Category: Gluten facts

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