Wed, 5 Mar 1997 07:43:41 -0500 Tammy Glaser <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>not been proven that these peptides can cross the protective blood brain
>barrier, any person living with a diet sensitive autistic child can attest
>that there are marked changes in mood and behavior when a child eats the
>wrong food.
>
>Here are some of the changes we have seen since the diet:
>
>--complete potty training (the opiodes must have been blocking her ability
>to detect when it was time to use the potty) and she does have relapses when
>she sneaks some gluten or casein

It may be that due to the urinary excretion of these peptides, when they
gather in the bladder, they have an anesthetizing effect on the nerves
there. This might also apply to the casomorphin peptides from dairy
products. (Just a thought.)

>
>--appearance of pretend play and imaginative skills (she never did this
>prior to diet)--she even PLAYS with Barbies now!

Perhaps there is an anesthetizing effect on parts of the cortex. A large
majority of newly diagnosed celiac children have been reported as
demonstrating EEG abnormalities.

>-improved abstract thinking skills which disappear when she sneaks gluten
>or casein (we homeschool and Pamela will lose abilities that she could
>easily do the day before eating gluten or casein--it takes about a day for
>these effects to clear her system)

Sure, in addition to the possibility of the opioid-acting peptides altering
synaptic functions, there is also the rapid consumption of serotonin needed
for the inflammatory and clotting process, in dealing with the intestinal
damage, which may reduce available stores of serotonin or its precursors for
use in neurotransmission.

>
>--increased language...other therapies probably have contributed here, but
>this biggest change that I can attribute to the diet is that she had very
>little spontaneous language--it was all need oriented...now she says things
>are descriptive (ie, "I am in the jungle" when climbing a tree) without
>prompt from me!

One case of aphasia is reported in the literature, as associated with celiac
disease.  With consistent deficiencies in folic acid associated with gluten
consumption,
among celiacs, it isn't much of a reach to think that the anesthetizing
effect could be concentrated in the language processing centers of the
brain, especially since that is what is sometimes reflected in the EEGs of
newly diagnosed celiac children.
I suspect that milk products, and some of the intolerances thereto, result
in similar dynamics.

>
>Also, when she does sneak gluten or casein (which really is rare, but often
>enough in 18 months to draw conclusions), we see increased tantrumming and
>irritability as well.

Yes, that fits well with the above, and with the discomfort associated with
GI discomfort.

  Pamela really is a happy child and she gets quite
>grouchy after eating gluten/casein.

Me too. :=)

Best Wishes,
Ron Hoggan