<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

On Thu, 14 Dec 1995, ANDREW E. STEVENSON wrote:

> I'm interested in the recent discussion on urinary tract symptoms and their
> possible relation to gluten. One of the unexpected changes in our
 four-year-old
> daughter once she went gluten-free was in her bathroom habits. Before her
> diagnosis, she always insisted that she never had to urinate, and she usually
> went only twice a day. She had "accidents" a few times a week. Once she began
> the diet, we were amazed that she began urinating regularly every few hours,
 as
> we would have expected a child to do. Now, she rarely has an accident--it
 seems
> to happen only when she accidentally ingests gluten. It's as though something
> about her reaction to gluten makes her unable to monitor her bladder
 sensations.
>

(much interesting and supportive data snipped)

I am sorry to have been so slow in stepping into this discussion but
"better late than never".

I appreciate that Coeliac Disease and Autism are different and that it is
by no means universally accepted that gluten is of relevance in the
latter. Nevertheless, there are similarities and, I suspect, certain
areas where there exist commonalities in terms of symptoms and causation.

Our studies have centred around autism and so any comparisons which you
wish to make with Coeliac Disease must, dear reader, be a matter for your
own determination and decision.

In our (unpublished in formal journal) study we found clear evidence of a
general reduction of sensitivity to sounds, taste and proprioception. Our
attempts at visual tests were inadequate but the student concerned did
perform some limited tests on one subject for the perception of pain.
(This last study was difficult to replicate for ethical reasons but the
subject of the study was the student's brother and in such situation
ethical considerations tend to be ignored.) It should be noted that
within this general reduction of sensitivity there were certain exeptions
where comparative hypersensitivity exists (for example the particular
frequency which the door-bell uses or Whitney Houston's top note) and
distress could result.

OK we are extrapolating from these situations but if these senses are
affected it is likely that others will be as well. An example would be the
peculiar sense of balance which is exhibited by people with autism. We
subscribe to the theory that gluten (and casein) derived peptides with
opioid activity are reducing tramsmission in the brain and, thereby
reducing the perception from all the senses. In the case of the "balance"
situation, we would regard the unusual skill as the consequence of the
inhibition of transmission of impulses between the semi-circular canals
of the ear to the interpretive centres of the brain.

Thus, when the source of the opioids is removed, the sensations will get
through and the situation as you describe will result. In the same way,
when the gluten is re-introduced, the opioid peptides would re-appear and
exert their effect. It is interesting that some folk have reported that
upon initiation of such interventions their child apears, temporarily at
least, to urinate much more frequently than before.

I appreciate that I have missed out most of the explanatory information
but my posts have a habit of being overlong anyway. Congratulations on
reaching this far.

Paul Shattock