Link found between celiac mothers and autism

[mbeezie]

Hey Everyone,

I just read an article in USA Today that for the first time showed a link between celiac mothers and the development of autism. It also confirmed a link with other autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 DM and RA.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/200 ... sm13_N.htm


I found this very interesting but not surprising.

Mary Beth

[jcc]

Yes... there have been two studies published in the last two months! And only a couple I've found related at all, previously. The gluten free/casein free diet has been around since the 1960's for treating autism... mostly rebuked by mainstream medicine. Now, some fifty years later... the proof is starting to show. Its been a slow start in regard to a gluten free/casein free diet being effective for some cases of schizophrenia, too. I've seen stats suggesting 10-20% of schizophrenia may be related to gluten/casein sensitivity...and reports of it go back to the 1970's.
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/schizophrenia


Thanks for posting the USA Today article... ! It's good to see this information being presented to the public!

Association of Family History of Autoimmune Diseases and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Atladóttir HO, Pedersen MG, Thorsen P, Mortensen PB, Deleuran B, Eaton WW, Parner ET.
Nanea, Department of Epidemiology, and.

Objectives: Recent studies suggest that familial autoimmunity plays a part in the pathogenesis of ASDs. In this study we investigated the association between family history of autoimmune diseases (ADs) and ASDs/infantile autism. We perform confirmatory analyses based on results from previous studies, as well as various explorative analyses. Methods: The study cohort consisted of all of the children born in Denmark from 1993 through 2004 (689196 children). Outcome data consisted of both inpatient and outpatient diagnoses reported to the Danish National Psychiatric Registry. Information on ADs in parents and siblings of the cohort members was obtained from the Danish National Hospital Register. The incidence rate ratio of autism was estimated by using log-linear Poisson regression. Results: A total of 3325 children were diagnosed with ASDs, of which 1089 had an infantile autism diagnosis. Increased risk of ASDs was observed for children with a maternal history of rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease. Also, increased risk of infantile autism was observed for children with a family history of type 1 diabetes. Conclusions: Associations regarding family history of type 1 diabetes and infantile autism and maternal history of rheumatoid arthritis and ASDs were confirmed from previous studies. A significant association between maternal history of celiac disease and ASDs was observed for the first time. The observed associations between familial autoimmunity and ASDs/infantile autism are probably attributable to a combination of a common genetic background and a possible prenatal antibody exposure or alteration in fetal environment during pregnancy.

PMID: 19581261 July 2009
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19581261

Celiac Disease Presenting as Autism.
Genuis SJ, Bouchard TP.
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Gluten-restricted diets have become increasingly popular among parents seeking treatment for children diagnosed with autism. Some of the reported response to celiac diets in children with autism may be related to amelioration of nutritional deficiency resulting from undiagnosed gluten sensitivity and consequent malabsorption. A case is presented of a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with severe autism at a specialty clinic for autistic spectrum disorders. After initial investigation suggested underlying celiac disease and varied nutrient deficiencies, a gluten-free diet was instituted along with dietary and supplemental measures to secure nutritional sufficiency. The patient's gastrointestinal symptoms rapidly resolved, and signs and symptoms suggestive of autism progressively abated. This case is an example of a common malabsorption syndrome associated with central nervous system dysfunction and suggests that in some contexts, nutritional deficiency may be a determinant of developmental delay. It is recommended that all children with neurodevelopmental problems be assessed for nutritional deficiency and malabsorption syndromes.

PMID: 19564647 June 2009
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19564647

Autoantibodies associated with psychiatric disorders.
Margutti P, Delunardo F, Ortona E.
Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie e Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. ortona@iss.it.

Growing evidence suggests that autoantibodies to neuronal or endothelial targets in psychiatric disorders exist and may be pathogenic. This review describes and discusses the possible role of autoantibodies related to the psychiatric manifestations in autoimmune diseases, autoantibodies related to the psychiatric disorders present in post-streptococcal diseases, celiac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and substance abuse, and autoantibodies related to schizophrenia and autism, disorders now considered of autoimmune origin.

PMID: 16719797 May 2006
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16719797

Immune response to dietary proteins, gliadin and cerebellar peptides in children with autism.
Vojdani A, O'Bryan T, Green JA, Mccandless J, Woeller KN, Vojdani E, Nourian AA, Cooper EL.

Section of Neuroimmunology, Immunosciences Lab., Inc., 8693 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 200, Beverly Hills, California 90211, USA. drari@msn.com

The mechanisms behind autoimmune reaction to nervous system antigens in autism are not understood. We assessed the reactivity of sera from 50 autism patients and 50 healthy controls to specific peptides from gliadin and the cerebellum. A significant percentage of autism patients showed elevations in antibodies against gliadin and cerebellar peptides simultaneously. For examining cross-reaction between dietary proteins and cerebellar antigens, antibodies were prepared in rabbits, and binding of rabbit anti-gliadin, anti-cerebellar peptides, anti-MBP, anti-milk, anti-egg, anti-soy and anti-corn to either gliadin- or cerebellar-antigen-coated wells was measured. In comparison to anti-gliadin peptide binding to gliadin peptide at 100%, the reaction of anti-cerebellar peptide to gliadin peptide was 22%, whereas the binding of anti-myelin basic protein (MBP), anti-milk, anti-egg and anti-soy to gliadin was less than 10%. Further examination of rabbit anti-gliadin (EQVPLVQQ) and anti-cerebellar (EDVPLLED) 8 amino acid (AA) peptides with human serum albumin (HSA) and an unrelated peptide showed no binding, but the reaction of these antibodies with both the cerebellar and gliadin peptides was greater than 60%. This cross-reaction was further confirmed by DOT-immunoblot and inhibition studies. We conclude that a subgroup of patients with autism produce antibodies against Purkinje cells and gliadin peptides, which may be responsible for some of the neurological symptoms in autism.

PMID: 15526989 June 2004
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15526989

MORE:
http://gfcf-diet.tacanow.org/dietary-re ... in-asd.htm

[tex]

This is all very interesting, obviously.

Thanks,
Tex

[mbeezie]

I find it particularly interesting because I had so many neuro symptoms that were immediately triggered by a vaccine that were then helped by a GF/CF diet . . . the same story that we hear from parents of autistic children.

Mary Beth

[tex]

Yes, but we know that the vaccinations can't possibly be causing those problems - because the medical "experts" tell us that there is no connection. And if anyone believes them, I have some prime land, out in a desolate area of New Mexico that I might be willing to sell.

You know, when you stop to think about it, there are a distressingly high number of examples of "cover-ups", half-truths, and disinformation in the medical world, aren't there. It's a wonder they have any credibility at all. A few of the myths they perpetuate, appear to be almost as shady as the methods used by some of the snake oil operators of years gone by.

Of course, in their defense, I feel obligated to point out that no one is perfect.

Tex

[mbeezie]

Oh so true. There is a vaccination injury reporting system. Doctors are supposed to report - I know they didn't in my case because they didn't know how to categorize my injury. How often do you suppose that happens???? I got on there myself to file my report but it was very limiting . . .couldn't tell my story, just had to basically check a box and no box really fit what happened. Also the compensation program for injuries is near impossible to collect on - you have to hire a lawyer, have a hospital stay involved yada, yada, yada.

MB

[jcc]

I have to admit that both of my daughters had suspicious neurological symptoms present near time of vaccination... although it was not the absolute beginning of their total health problems.... and it took me an uncanny amount of time to put it together. It all happened before any of this was really on my radar, so I never even questioned the vaccine initially.

My older daughter had her first noticeable seizure within 30 minutes of receiving her MMR booster, required back then for students entering 6th grade as a "catch up". She went for blood work after her routine physical because I wanted her tested for thyroid disease.... and it was just after the blood draw that she had her first seizure. At first we thought she was just passing out, but she didn't come out of it with smelling salts, and afterwards she had lead legs, bad headache, and twitching. Days later she had a second seizure, confirmed eventually on EEG, and she continued to have seizures for 6 months.

Now, looking back, we believe she was having absence seizures all along as far back as age 4, and eventually we found she was also B6 deficient... but the timing of that first bigger seizure is still suspicious. I think sometimes there are many factors involved... but adding that one more factor may be enough to tip the scale. I think I believe in the concept of there being "seizure thresholds" or "allergy load thresholds".

My youngest daughter had her first episode of "limp rag doll" fatigue the day of or day after her MMR. I honestly can't remember if it was the same day or the day after now.. but I DID suspect the vaccine as the cause a little sooner with her. I remember her describing that she was laying down at preschool and she couldn't get up... and kids were telling her to get up and she couldn't.... and then they laughed and laid down, too. What bothered her most in her 4 yr old mind was the kids laughing at her because she couldn't get up. It sounded like it was very brief, and when I asked the staff about it the next day, none of them remembered seeing that. But... she did continue to have fleeting episodes of this at home... but certainly not every day. After the next one, that I witnessed myself, I just picked her up and rushed her to the doctor without an appointment because I was so freaked out... and he found her to be mildly hypotonic... and went on to describe guillian barre sort of reactions...but told me she was ok. She also broke out in a weird "chicken pox" like rash a week later, and that was considered suspect, too, for having caused weird neurological symptoms. Coincidentally ( ), all of her weird neurological symptoms vanished on a gluten free diet that we began about 6 months later.

So, in both cases, there were also "other" things... but you still have to wonder if the vaccines contributed in any way to tipping the scale. I do remember telling the doctor I don't think I'd have her vaccinated again... but it was her last MMR anyway. The schedules had changed, so she wouldn't need that middle school booster like my older daughter did. I was so relieved!

Vaccines may be safe for the majority, but so is penicillin. That doesn't mean some people won't have adverse reactions. It makes me crazy when people argue that because something isn't bad for everyone, it can't be bad for anyone.

[mbeezie]

Wow, sounds scary. I had neuro episodes that involved bad headaches and what looked like a seizure, but only from the neck down - my legs would shake so badly I couldn't get up - episodes lasted for 30 minutes to over an hour at times. The leg shaking stopped after 2 months but then I got peripheral neuropathy in the feet, hands and lip/tongue that persisted until I got on the GF diet. The headaches were not as intense as they were initially but I always had a dull headache - that went away went I went CF. I saw 2 different neurologists who were no help and only wanted to do painful nerve conduction tests.

Looking back at my history I have been gluten sensitive all of my life, but the symptoms clearly got worse with the vaccine.

Mary Beth

[jcc]

On verbal apraxia, autism, and gluten sensitivity...

Scientists Characterizes New Syndrome Of Allergy, Apraxia, Malabsorption
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 104002.htm

More Printer Friendly version:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 071309.php

In the study, Dr. Morris collected information from nearly 200 families with children who suffered from verbal apraxia in order to better characterize the symptoms and metabolic anomalies of a subset of children. The data clearly demonstrated a common cluster of allergy, apraxia and malabsorption, along with low muscle tone, poor coordination and sensory integration abnormalities. In addition, Dr. Morris was able to gather laboratory analyses in 26 of the children, which revealed low carnitine levels, abnormal celiac panels, gluten sensitivity, and vitamin D deficiency among others.

All children genetically screened carried an HLA gene associated with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. "The sample size is still small and should be interpreted with caution," says Dr. Morris. "However this is of particular interest given the recent publication by Eaton and colleagues in the July 6 online edition of Pediatrics demonstrating a greater than 3-fold risk of autism in children born to mothers diagnosed with celiac disease. This brings some credibility to the anecdotal reports of gastrointestinal and behavioral improvements in children with autism spectrum disorders and/or verbal apraxia when eliminating gluten from their diets. Although the implications of these observations remain to be determined, this association and the utility of dietary modifications warrant further investigation, particularly if we can identify a genetically vulnerable group".

Most significantly, the data indicate that the neurologic dysfunction represented in the syndrome overlaps the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency. While low vitamin E bioavailability may occur due to a variety of different causes, neurological consequences are similar, regardless of the initiating trigger. The study suggests that vitamin E could be used as a safe nutritional intervention that may benefit some children. Growing evidence support the benefits of omega 3 fatty acid supplementation in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders. Anecdotally children with verbal apraxia will often demonstrate leaps in their speech production when taking high-quality fish oil. The addition of vitamin E to omega 3 fatty acid supplementation in this cohort of children induced benefits that exceeded those expected from just speech therapy alone, according to parental report

She points out that it is equally important for children given an apraxia diagnosis to receive a more comprehensive metabolic evaluation than what is current practice. Many of the nutritional deficiencies like low carnitine, zinc and vitamin D are easily treated. By not addressing the nutritional deficiencies, the child will continue to suffer from significant medical consequences of those deficiencies. The first step is to identify and treat the deficiencies. The next step is to try to figure out why they have these deficiencies and a fat malabsorption syndrome in the first place. However, Dr. Morris does advise families to work closely with a physician rather than trying promising but unproven interventions on their own.

Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland (2009, July 15). Scientists Characterizes New Syndrome Of Allergy, Apraxia, Malabsorption. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/07/090714104002.htm