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I received the following 'guest post' from Dr. Reichelt this morning, in
reply to some of the recent posts about behavioral changes due to
gluten:
 
Hi
 
Classic works on autistic symptoms in coeliac disease have been published
(1) and also depression (2). But of course not in all (is there ever
something that applies to all?)
 
It is extremely relevant that we find very high IgA antibodies against food
proteins in Downs syndrome(3). The effect of food proteins are also manifest
from our data on on diet and autism (4).
 
Furthermore a series of neurological conditions have been related to gluten
intolerance. Thus spinocerebellar degeneration, neurological symptoms,
cerebellar syndromes and degeneration of the CNS have all been
implicated(5-8). Gluten provocation in young children  with coeliac disease
can cause long lasting EEG (Electroencephalographic ) changes in spite of
normal vitamin levels (9). In adults gluten intolerance, occipital
calcifications and a parietal epilepsy have been found (10).
 
Finally it is important that proteins which contain many eg. exorphin
sequences such as gluten where there are 15 per molecule (11), even trace
amounts may cause problems when the break down is decreased or intestinal
uptake increased swamping even normal digestive capacity.
Animal model of extreme relevance because monoamine changes are similar to
those described in human coeliac patients  by Hallert(2) is that carried
out in Canada by Thibeault(12). Cats usually do not eat gluten.
 
References:
1: Asperger H (1961) Die Psychopathologie des Coeliakiekranken Kindes.Ann
Paediatr. 197:146-151.
2: Hallert C et al (1982) psychic disturbances in adult coeliac disease
III.reduced central monoamine metabolism and signs of depression. Scand J
Gastroenterol. 17: 25-28.
3: Reichelt Kl et al (1994) Increased levels of antibodies to food proteins
in Downs syndrome. Acta Paediat Japon. 36: 489-492.
4:Reichelt Kl et al (1994)Nature and consequences of hyperpeptiduria amd
bovine casomorphin found in autistic syndromes. Develop brain Dysfunct.
7:71-85.
5:Ward ME et al (1985) Celiac Disease and Spinocerebellar Degeneration with
Normal Vitamin E status. Neurology 35:1199-1201.
6:Cooke WT et al (1966)Neurological disorders associated with adult coeliac
disease .Brain 89: 683-722.
7: Finelli PF et al (1980) Adult coeliac disease presenting as cerebellar
syndrome. neurology 30: 245-249.
8:Kinney HC et al (1982) Degeneration of the central nervous system
associated with coeliac disease. J Neurol Sci 5: 9-22.
9:Paul KD et al (1985) EEG-Befunde bei Zoeliakikrnaken Kinderen in
Abh{ngigheit der Ern{hrung. Z Klin med  40: 707-709.
10 : Gobbi G et al (1992) Coeliac disease, epilepsy and cerebral
calcifications.Lancet 340:439-443.
11: Fukudome Si and Yoshikawa M (1991) Opioid peptides derived from wheat
gluten: their isolation and characterization. FEBS Lett 296: 107-111.
12: Thibault L et al (1988) Changes in serum amino acids content and
dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and brain neurotransmitter interaction in cats
fed casein with and without gluten . J Clin Biochem Nutr.4: 209-221.
13:Zagon IS and McLaughlin PJ (1987) Endogenous opioid systems regulate
mcell proliferation in the developing rat brain. Brain res 412:68-72
 
Conclusion: Because gluten can cause neurological problems it is not
strange at all that it may also give behavioural problems.The opposite
would be improbable.
We believe (4) that the mediators of these problems are peptides and
specifically exorphins that do have inhibition of  nerve development as one
of their effects (13)
 
K. Reichelt
Pediatric Research Institute
N-0027 Oslo, Norway
Tel: +47 22 86 90 45
Fax: +47 22 86 91 17
E-mail: [log in to unmask]