The link between gluten and mental health
Véronique Cousineau; ND, RHN
https://www.verosante.com/
May is Celiac Disease Month. From May 1st to May 7, we also celebrate Mental Illness Week. Is there a possible link between the two?
Celiac disease is a serious medical condition associated with the ingestion of the gluten protein, affecting 1% of the Canadian population. Gluten intolerance, on the other hand, is a very different phenomenon, affecting up to 6% of the population. Non-celiac gluten intolerance is a very real condition that is now documented in medical textbooks, defining the symptoms an individual experiences as a result of ingesting gluten.
Symptoms of both conditions can be intestinal and/or extra-intestinal. Thus, any body system can be affected by a reaction to gluten. Here we focus on the link between gluten and mental health conditions.
What science tells us
In recent years, a number of scientific studies have combined the fields of gastroenterology and psychiatry to determine whether there is a link between the digestive system and mental illness. The results show that there is indeed a link, and that the subject is broader than we might think.
While further investigation is required to fully understand the role of gluten in the manifestation of mental illness, a number of studies have demonstrated that gluten can contribute to the symptoms of :
- Panic, anxiety
- Depression
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Anorexia and eating disorders
- Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
- Autism
In several studies, gluten has been associated with both recurrence and remission of the above-mentioned disorders. Individuals hospitalized in psychiatry who were prescribed a gluten-free diet during their hospital stay experienced remission on average twice as fast as their peers who did not receive the modified diet.
The link between gluten consumption and schizophrenia has been studied for over 60 years. Indeed, data dating back to the 1950s have demonstrated a direct correlation between the introduction of processed wheat into a population's diet and the number of schizophrenia cases reported. Proportionally, there is also a reduction in the number of cases reported when wheat consumption is reduced. The same applies to autism.
How can we explain this phenomenon?
In celiac individuals, mental health disorders are often associated with significant dietary deficiencies due to poor nutrient absorption. This is due to the damage done to the intestinal flora and lining.
The cause, however, is not always so simple. There is a link between the immune response produced by gluten intolerance and mood balance. Some studies are investigating this phenomenon by studying the effect of exorphins produced by gluten digestion. Exorphins are compounds which mimic the effect of endorphins (a substance naturally produced by the brain producing morphine-like effects). Once these compounds have entered the bloodstream, they can reach certain areas of the brain, creating an opioid effect. This affects the balance of neurotransmitters, the brain's essential messengers for mood regulation and mental health.
The health of the thyroid gland could also be responsible for some of the symptoms presented by mental health. Indeed, the health of this gland can be greatly affected by an autoimmune process in an individual suffering from undiagnosed gluten intolerance.
Nutrition in general
Celiac disease and gluten intolerance can present themselves in atypical and insidious ways, so it's not surprising that many cases go undiagnosed. One should not necessarily expect to experience digestive discomfort before investigating a possible link between gluten consumption and psychological or even psychiatric symptoms, since in the case of intolerance, symptoms often manifest themselves outside the digestive tract.
The important role of diet remains a neglected aspect of the current medical model. Gluten sensitivity remains under-investigated when it comes to factors contributing to psychiatric conditions.
I strongly recommend that anyone experiencing mental health problems review their diet and remove gluten, even if only experimentally. Many alternatives are available on the market, and it is possible to find products that are rich in nutrients.
Don't forget that a well-balanced diet containing good sources of protein, fish (or other forms of fish) and a healthy diet can help to maintain a healthy lifestyle.omega-3), good fats, whole grains (sprouted if possible) and a variety of fruits and vegetables, provides our brains with an essential foundation. By avoiding processed foods, sugar and food additives, and supplementing the diet with a good multivitamin, the chances of developing mental disorders are reduced.
Bibliography:
Hadjivassiliou, Marios, et al. "Does cryptic gluten sensitivity play a part in neurological illness?." The Lancet 347.8998 (1996): 369-371.Jackson, J.R., Eaton, W.W., Cascella, N.G. et al. Psychiatr Q (2012) 83: 91. doi:10.1007/s11126-011-9186-y
Nicola G. Cascella, Debra Kryszak, Bushra Bhatti, Patricia Gregory, Deanna L. Kelly, Joseph P. Mc Evoy, Alessio Fasano, William W. Eaton; Prevalence of Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity in the United States Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness Study Population. Schizophr Bull 2011; 37 (1): 94-100. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbp055
Valicenti-McDermott, Maria D., et al. "Gastrointestinal symptoms in children with an autism spectrum disorder and language regression." Pediatric Neurology 39.6 (2008): 392-398.
Dohan, F. C., and J. C. Grasberger. "Relapsed schizophrenics: earlier discharge from the hospital after cereal-free, milk-free diet." American Journal of Psychiatry 130.6 (1973): 685-688.
NUTRITION ISSUES IN GASTROENTEROLOGY, SERIES #142, Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity Where are We Now in 2015?,
Anna Sapone MD PhD, Daniel A. Leffler MD, MS, Rupa Mukherjee MD, Beth Israel Deaconess
Pruimboom, Leo, and Karin de Punder. "The opioid effects of gluten exorphins: asymptomatic celiac disease." Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition 33.1 (2015): 24.