Read the whole article after reading this exerpt, written by Sayer Ji, of GreenMedInfo.com which details a new study published in the journal Psychiatry Research, and seven others which have shown a link with gluten ingestion and mania and schizophrenia.
The take away is: individuals with mania had significantly increased levels of IgG antibodies to gliadin.
Posted on: Tuesday, March 13th 2012 at 9:15 am
Written By: Sayer Ji, Founder
Wheat could be driving more than your digestive system crazy.
While wheat is well known to wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal health of genetically susceptible folks, such as those with celiac disease, and more recently, irritable bowel syndrome, new research published in the journal Psychiatry Research indicates that sensitivity to one of the components in wheat known as gliadin could be driving some into states of acute mania:
"The relationship of the antibodies to the clinical course of mania was analyzed by the use of regression models. Individuals with mania had significantly increased levels of IgG antibodies to gliadin, but not other markers of celiac disease, at baseline compared with controls in multivariate analyses."
"Among the individuals with mania, elevated levels at follow-up were significantly associated with re-hospitalization in the six month follow-up period."1
While correlation does not equal causation, it is interesting to note that there is already robust supportive research on the link between wheat consumption and schizophrenia. Seven such studies can be viewed on our open source wheat database, for those inclined to explore this connection further. You will also find listed there over a dozen neurological conditions linked to wheat consumption.
For an additional explanation for why wheat may exhibit neurotoxic, if not also psychotropic properties, the excerpts from our essay series The Dark Side of Wheat are provided to shed light on the topic:
Gliadin can be broken down into various amino acid lengths or peptides. Gliadorphin is a 7 amino acid long peptide: Tyr-Pro-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Phe which forms when the gastrointestinal system is compromised. When digestive enzymes are insufficient to break gliadorphin down into 2-3 amino acid lengths and a compromised intestinal wall allows for the leakage of the entire 7 amino acid long fragment into the blood, glaidorphin can pass through to the brain through circumventricular organs and activate opioid receptors resulting in disrupted brain function.
Dr Dohan has shown improvement of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, who went on a gluten free diet. Humm.
To your health,
Dr. Barbara
