<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
Wow! What a wonderful response! I put all of the responses (not including
Out of Office Autoresponders, LOL) into a folder and found 32!!! Thank you
to everyone who responded to my question--I really appreciate the help with
this story, and hope that the article will ultimately make a difference in
the lives of all those who are adversely affected by certain foods. It looks
like there *is* a definite connection for some people between food and
behavior, one that is worth investigating further. I've learned from my
earlier research that there have been numerous studies done, but that the
food/behavior link results get lost...for example, say 2 people out of 100
surveyed demonstrate a behavioral effect due to food, but because the other
98 *didn't,* the results for those 2 people are overlooked. OK, on to the
summary--I've put it into two parts, due to the number and length of
replies. I've separated replies with ###. Again, thank you to everyone who
wrote in.
Cordially, Chris Hansen
PS, I'm having technical difficulties with the length of the summaries, so
my apologies for the lonely one that got through. I'm re-sending the whole
thing as it should be, LOL.
###
my son is adhd, takes ritalin, but seems to almost not need it when staying
on a very strict wheat and milk free diet, including additives,
preservatives, and other junk items. Unfortunately, my ex husband shoots the
whole diet out of the water!! Because of this, I seem dramatic differences
in my son on and off the diet. It might be possible for him to avoid taking
ritalin all together, but for now, because he cheats on the diet with
friends at lunch and with his dad on visits, the ritalin allows him to
attend at school and behave, two necessary components for success at school.
###
> --What led you to explore the food/additive connection with behavior?
At least three different mothers--with no connection to each
other--suggested that the behavioral difficulties we were experiencing were
gluten related, based on their own experiences with having a GI child
themselves.
> --How did you investigate? Did you do blood testing, food challenges,
both, > something else?
Stool test.
> --What were the results?
He tested his IgA level tested 40 (below 10 being normal).
What are the "trigger" foods/additives (if any) for > your child?
Gluten in any form and consuming milk or ice cream. ("Hidden" dairy doesn't
seem to bother him.)
> --How does your child react to these triggers?
His behavior becomes *very* hyper, aggressive, combative, and argumentative.
I daresay if we had him evaluated while he was on gluten, he would be dxed
with ADD and ODD.
###
I am a dietitian and chairperson for our local celiac/dh support group.
I can't use names or supply contact information but we have a few
hyperactive, autistic and/or alzberger's children (ages 4-11 yrs) whose
mothers report really dramatic behavior improvements in their children after
removing 'culprit' foods from their diets. The most commonly cited food is
DAIRY and the effect dairy has on their children occurs literally within
minutes of ingestion of any amount.of dairy product. Almost immediately
after eating cheese or dairy products, behaviour just falls apart -- makes
it easy to determine cause. They often report uncontrollable temper tantrums
for no apparent reason -- or mood swings -- or anger or uncontrollable
laughter for no reason (this one from my own son when he was growing up -
related to either dairy or sugar - I know what they say about sugar NOT
causing 'hyperactivity' but either the sugar or the ice cream which
contained the sugar sure has an effect on many kids!)
I think the response to removal of gluten or wheat in kids takes longer to
be noticeable and makes it harder to pinpoint the offending food)s) - the
improvements after removing gluten seems more related to increased growth,
fewer illnesses, elimination of GI symptoms of diarrhea or constipation
(I've seen more constipation than diarrhea in kids as well as adults!) and
improved appetite/sense of well-being.
Across the board for improvement after eliminating gluten, the #1 benefit is
disappearance of "bellyaches" -- nonspecific, almost constant stomach pain
with the associated whining, crying, lack of desire to play or go to school
etc. etc.... This is the symptom that I remember most from my childhood --
ever-present stomach pain and lack of desire to do anything because of it -
along with very frequent headaches which became daily migraines in my teens.
Migraines often improve tremendously after removing glutens and other
allergens or 'problem-foods' they often do not cause traditional allergy
test responses.)
<<snipped>>
So I identify strongly with the mothers of kids with whom I've
communicated -- they rarely come to our group meetings -- they have their
hands full since they do all their own baking, cooking, even grinding flour
and 'inventing' new recipes to tempt their kids while trying to meet
nutritional needs. Just about all of their children have multiple food
sensitivities - not just 1 food-problem. They all have other kids, often
without the same problems as the highly allergic one -- but they watch their
other children since these problems are hereditary and try to delay
introducing new foods or problem foods until later. I have alot of respect
for all of them.
My own feeling is that food intolerances in kids are much underdiagnosed --
and even as a last resort in treating very ill or very behaviour-challenged
children, food-sensitivity is often overlooked entirely.
###
Gluten does affect a child's behaviour. There are many sites linked to
Gluten and Autism, Schizophrenia, ADD and ADHD .... the list is long.
On a personal level I can tell you that before I was diagnosed
gluten-intolerant I had the DH rash, and I felt completely out of control
mentally, grinding my teeth and feeling irrational. Imagine how this
translates to a child.
My grandson (7 nearly 8) is undiagnosed, but has all the indications of
being Celiac. His parents are in denial. When this boy comes to us for 10
days to two weeks he is a sunny natured child, and his diet is gluten-free.
Last week we went on vacation with the family, and the boy ate bread at
every meal. He was obnoxious from day one: agreesive, possessive,
pig-headed, controling and demanding. I am convinced this is a gluten
reaction.
###
--What led you to explore the food/additive connection with behavior? He
didn't feel well and was having alot of stomach pain. He also had diarrhea
for a few months. When he was younger he would often complain that his
stomach hurt after eating, we really didn't think anything of it, I am sure
it was early signs of Celiac Disease.
--How did you investigate? Did you do blood testing, food challenges, both,
something else? We first went to our family doctor they ran a stool and
blood test but found nothing then we to a specialist and he ran the gluten
blood test and it came back postive.
--What were the results? What are the "trigger" foods/additives (if any) for
your child? Postive on the gluten test. Wheat and other gluten products are
the problem.
--How does your child react to these triggers? He gets diarrhea, and is very
grumpy.
--What role did your child's physician/care provider play in addressing the
food/additive connection? He sent us to a specialist which found the problem
and had us change his diet.
--In what ways are you modifying your child's diet? No Wheat, Rye, Barley
products are to be eaten by him.
--How has modifying your child's diet affected his/her behavior or symptoms?
Somes healther and happier now.
###
In my own case, removing gluten from my daughter's diet has made small, but
definite improvements. The first big change was that she started sleeping
through the night most of the time.
Other parents, I know, have seen much more dramatic results.
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