The pathology of gluten sensitivity/celiac disease is in the connective tissues that are structurally and functionally different and the resultant permeable intestine sometimes called a "leaky gut".
To really thrive, the best diet is the GAPS diet or the Gut and Psychology diet developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. She updated the specific carbohydrate diet using the newest information we have about foods.The GAPS diet tries to heal the "leaky gut". Supplements are also recommended both to make up for the nutritional deficiencies brought on by the "leaky gut" and because there are higher needs for some vitamens because of genetic (connective tissue) abnormalities.
I don't recommend a gluten free diet because I rarely see gluten sensitive/celiac persons do well on it. (Perhaps 1 out of 10). Autoimmune diseases still continue to present themselves and nutritional deficiencies persist. There are lots of problems with the flour substitutes from contamination, undiagnosed food allergies to high glycemic load. And store bought gluten free products are also made with seed oils which aggravates the omega 3-6-9 ratio. And grains have anti-nutrients in them.
A gluten free (GF) diet does help to some degree, for example we know that cancer rates start to drop from four times higher and by five years on a GF diet the risk of cancer (in a gluten sensitive/celiac person) is at the rate of the general population (RR =1). But is that enough when a person still doesn't feel well?
A GF diet, as apposed to a grain free diet or GAPS diet, rarely heals or stops any inflammatory processes that already exist nor stops the onset of autoimmune diseases (which are 12 times more common in GS/Celiac). Why does the GF diet fail? Because it doesn't heal the "leaky gut".
One of the best GAPS diet blogs is produced by Kat .
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Brain, SPECT and Celiac
Gluten has strong pathophysiological effects on the brain and nervous tissues in persons genetically susceptible to gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.
One of its effects is to cause hypo-perfusion or reduction of blood flow. SPECT scans have helped illusidate those changes of the blood flow of the brain exposed to gluten in the person who is gluten sensitive or celiac. In a study done by Dr Giovanni Addolorato and associates, out of the Institute of Internal Medicine,Catholic University of Rome, and reported in Am J Med 2004http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343%2803%2900696-X/abstract, SPECT scan results showed the presence of regional cerebral hypo-perfusion in 73% of the untreated Celiac (CD) patients, compared with only 7% of CD patients on gluten free diet and none of the controls.Similar cerebral blood flow changes have been reported in patients suffering from different psychiatric disorders.
This happens in real life, to all those who have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease whether they know they have it or not. There are between 7 to 13 people undiagnosed for every celiac diagnosed depending on the study.
Dr. Parker writes:
Brain, SPECT and Celiac
Brain changes do appear on SPECT imaging with bowel immune dysfunction: think gluten sensitivity and celiac. Seeing real pathological evidence, bottom to top, does help with believing. Just a few months ago we reported at CorePsych Blog the interesting findings, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, of all places, on SPECT brain imaging, celiac and a clearing of schizophrenic symptoms when the gluten sensitivity was effectively treated. Schizophrenia cured by eating a proper diet… and reported in an Internal Medicine journal? Interesting how others are seeing evidence for what some of us in mental health are missing.
The Villi Tell The Tale
This pathology slide set shows what celiac and early gluten sensitivity look like on the bowel level from the Columbia University Celiac Disease Center:
Just below: a typical brain image we often see using SPECT imaging for individuals with immune dysregulation. So many articles are coming up regarding brain imaging with SPECT with celiac I thought you would like to see the actual brain level findings that we see in our office.
The Immune Brain
Here you can easily see the temporal lobe and prefrontal hypoperfusion, so often referenced in the literature, that lead us to always chase down possible immune dysfunction/bowel/celiac issues as reported in the article below. -Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words…
Metabolic Brain
Frontal cortical perfusion abnormalities related to gluten intake and associated autoimmune disease in adult coeliac disease: 99mTc-ECD brain SPECT study. Usai P et al. Dig Liver Dis. 2004; 36(8): 513-8
See the conclusions below:
RESULTS: Twenty-four out of 34 patients (71%) showed brain single-photon emission computed tomography abnormalities confirmed by abnormal regional asymmetry index (>5%; range 5.8-18.5%). Topographic comparison of the brain areas showed that the more significant abnormalities were localised in frontal regions, and were significantly different from controls only in coeliac disease patients on unrestricted diet. The prevalence of single-photon emission computed tomography abnormalities was similar in coeliac disease patients with (74%) and without (69%) associated autoimmune disease. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities of brain perfusion seem common in coeliac disease. This phenomenon is similar to that previously described in other autoimmune diseases, but does not appear to be related to associated autoimmunity and, at least in the frontal region, may be improved by a gluten-free diet.These interesting articles reveal the growing interface between brain and body evidence in immune dysfunction. It’s interesting to bring these brain studies together with real office laboratory findings that confirm the pathophysiology on a gut cellular level.
Of further interest: SPECT is demonstrating changes in mold neurotoxin, neuroimmune conditions as well – more on mold findings in a later post. CP
See his blog for more information on brain health.http://www.corepsychblog.com/2008/01/spect-imaging-notes-more-on-celiac-brain-hypofunction/
Yes, it is interesting to see the evidence that there are more medical conditions, including celiac/gluten sensitivity that cause or aggravate conditions we call mental illnesses. Which then in turn increases our hope to truly help those who are suffering by making a diagnosis.
Test or be tested for Gluten sensitivity. It could save a life.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Gluten causes brain disease!
The name of the blog, Celiac Brain can mean different things such as the state of denial one gets when one is first presented with the possibility of being gluten sensitivity and of starting a gluten free way of eating.
Or it can refer to the serious negative effects of gluten on the brain and nerves. There will be more to come on this subject.
This is an excerpt of Dr Fords article but see the full article here.
Dr. Rodney Ford is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. He was Professor of Pediatrics at the Christchurch School of Medicine. He runs the Children’s Gastroenterology and Allergy Clinic in New Zealand. He has written a series of 7 books on gluten (www.DrRodneyFord.com). His main theory is that symptoms from gluten reactions arise from brain and nerve damage. His latest book is "The Gluten Syndrome" which encapsulates current ideas and concepts of gluten and the harm that it does.
View all articles by Dr. Rodney Ford M.D.This article appeared in the Autumn 2006 edition of Celiac.coms Scott-Free Newsletter.
Celiac.com 12/11/2006 - Yes, thats what I think. Gluten-sensitivity is a disease of your brain and nerves.
The gluten puzzle
I have come to this conclusion after studying the effects of gluten on my patients for over a decade. I am a pediatric gastroenterologist and allergist. I run a busy clinic for children and their parents. I have been increasingly concerned by the large numbers of my patients who are affected by gluten. I was perplexed by their wide-ranging symptoms. The puzzle was to explain how gluten could cause so much ill health to so many people in so many different ways, including celiac disease.
Faulty brain control
Eureka! The solution came when deep in discussion with my friend and colleague, Ron Harper, Professor of Neurobiology, UCLA. We were both struggling with the concept of multiple symptoms that needed to be explained. The answer appeared absurdly simple: disturbed "brain control". It suddenly seemed obvious—gluten could disturb the neural pathways of the body. Gluten was gradually damaging the brain and the nerves of susceptible people. It was the brain that was the common pathway for the manifestations of all of the gluten symptoms. So I set out to research what the world medical literature had to say. ....
The shocking truth
The shocking truth about gluten is that gluten foods are causing tremendous damage—but currently this is going mostly unrecognized. Unfortunately, gluten grains have become our staple diet. The quantity of gluten in our food supply has been steadily increasing. Yet worse, official Health Policies endorse gluten grains as the foundation of our food pyramid....
Or it can refer to the serious negative effects of gluten on the brain and nerves. There will be more to come on this subject.
This is an excerpt of Dr Fords article but see the full article here.
Gluten Causes Brain Disease! By Prof. Rodney Ford M.B., B.S., M.D., F.R.A.C.P.
- By Dr. Rodney Ford M.D.
- Published 12/11/2006
- Celiac Disease
- Rating:
Dr. Rodney Ford M.D.
Dr. Rodney Ford is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. He was Professor of Pediatrics at the Christchurch School of Medicine. He runs the Children’s Gastroenterology and Allergy Clinic in New Zealand. He has written a series of 7 books on gluten (www.DrRodneyFord.com). His main theory is that symptoms from gluten reactions arise from brain and nerve damage. His latest book is "The Gluten Syndrome" which encapsulates current ideas and concepts of gluten and the harm that it does.View all articles by Dr. Rodney Ford M.D.
Celiac.com 12/11/2006 - Yes, thats what I think. Gluten-sensitivity is a disease of your brain and nerves.
The gluten puzzle
I have come to this conclusion after studying the effects of gluten on my patients for over a decade. I am a pediatric gastroenterologist and allergist. I run a busy clinic for children and their parents. I have been increasingly concerned by the large numbers of my patients who are affected by gluten. I was perplexed by their wide-ranging symptoms. The puzzle was to explain how gluten could cause so much ill health to so many people in so many different ways, including celiac disease.
Faulty brain control
Eureka! The solution came when deep in discussion with my friend and colleague, Ron Harper, Professor of Neurobiology, UCLA. We were both struggling with the concept of multiple symptoms that needed to be explained. The answer appeared absurdly simple: disturbed "brain control". It suddenly seemed obvious—gluten could disturb the neural pathways of the body. Gluten was gradually damaging the brain and the nerves of susceptible people. It was the brain that was the common pathway for the manifestations of all of the gluten symptoms. So I set out to research what the world medical literature had to say. ....
The shocking truth
The shocking truth about gluten is that gluten foods are causing tremendous damage—but currently this is going mostly unrecognized. Unfortunately, gluten grains have become our staple diet. The quantity of gluten in our food supply has been steadily increasing. Yet worse, official Health Policies endorse gluten grains as the foundation of our food pyramid....
Links for more info on celiac/gluten sensitivity
The link I find most useful is to Scott Adam's Celiac.com. One can subscribe to their newsletter free of charge and to The Journal of Gluten Sensitivity (fee involved). It covers scientific findings, articles on managing a gluten free lifestyle and recipes.
Dr. Rodney Ford, MD and Professor of Pediatrics writes that he thinks gluten causes brain disease. The brain is significantly affected and gluten is a neurotoxin. I will be writing on this in the near future but in the mean time read this article.
Dr. Rodney Ford, MD and Professor of Pediatrics writes that he thinks gluten causes brain disease. The brain is significantly affected and gluten is a neurotoxin. I will be writing on this in the near future but in the mean time read this article.
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