Wheat, Celiac Disease And Autism: Are They Linked?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopment disorders that affects many people and the numbers are growing every day. Why and what is causing this terrible life alternating disorder that is inflicting so many of our children and adults everyday? In our toxic world there are so many theories and concerns about our unhealthy lifestyles and products, but no one seems to have an exact answer or cure at this time. Could there be a link between wheat and autism?

This disorder affects people of all ethnic and socioeconomic groups of every age, but males are 4 times more likely to have ASD than females.  According to the experts at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and as reported by Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on March 30. 2012 – 1 out of 88 children by age 8 will have ASD.

Autism is a behavior disorder that is characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior that inflicts millions of families with children or loved ones.

For the families that are dealing with and praying for answers for help for their love ones  — I have some very important information to share with you about Autism that might help and give them hope.  If you or your loved one is suffering from this life changing disorder this article from the SleuthJournal  is for you. I believe it is imperative that you become aware of this information and read it carefully.

As the autism epidemic continues to accelerate, one of the least well-known contributing factors goes mostly unnoticed: wheat consumption.

A new study published in the open access journal PLoS is reinvigorating the debate over what are the primary causes of the accelerating autism epidemic. Within the conventional medical establishment too many are failing to identify a singular cause. Instead they label the condition “idiopathic,” i.e. cause unknown, or worse, “caused by unknown defective genes,”but  there is a growing awareness that a multitude of environmental factors including vaccines (mercury linked to autism), chemical exposures, C-sections, antibiotics, genetically modified food, food intolerances and allergies are essential in both understanding and treating this disturbing affliction.

The new study titled, “Markers of Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity in Children with Autism,” explored the possible association between gluten sensitivity and autism, which previous research has confirmed only inconsistently.

They described their aim as follows: “To assess immune reactivity to gluten in pediatric patients diagnosed with autism according to strict criteria and to evaluate the potential link between autism and celiac disease.”

They discovered that children with autism had significantly higher levels of IgG antibodies to gliadin, the primary immunotoxic protein in wheat, compared with healthy controls. They also found that the IgG anti-gliadin antibody response was significantly greater in the autistic children with gastrointestinal symptoms in comparison to those without them.

The elevated IgG antibodies indicate:

1) that their immune systems are identifying gliadin proteins as “other.”

2) that gliadin is not being properly broken down through digestive processes and are entering through a compromised intestinal tract (“leaky gut”) into the blood.

The theory is that when the immune system forms antibodies against gliadin, these antibodies cross react with self-structures within the nervous system. Known as molecular mimicry, this break down of immunological self-tolerance can contribute to wide range of neurological problems including neuropathy, ataxia, seizures, and neurobehavioral changes including mania, schizophrenia and autism. Anti-gliadin antibodies are a possible cause of autoimmune neurological damage. One study published in the Journal of Immunology in 2007 found that anti-gliadin antibodies cross react with the neurological protein class known as synapsin I, providing a molecular mechanism behind how an immune reaction to gliadin could contribute to neurological degeneration.

Beyond Celiac Disease:

Wheat Causes Far More Harm Than Commonly Understood

When the researchers looked at levels of celiac disease specific blood markers (i.e. antibodies to deamidated gliadin and TG2), they did not differ between patients and controls. Moreover, there was no observed association between the HLA-DQ2 genetic locus of celiac disease susceptibility and increased anti-gliadin antibodies. This is an important finding, as many look upon wheat intolerance or sensitivity as a rare disorder without a clearly defined mechanism of action like celiac disease. They would rather not believe that wheat, which is a glorified grain in wealthier countries, could contribute to a wide range of diseases. Our project, for instance, has identified over 200 potential adverse health effects of gluten consumption. One does not have to have classically defined celiac disease, or “wheat allergy,” to experience adverse effects associated with gluten-grain consumption.

The authors of the study concluded:

A subset of children with autism displays increased immune reactivity to gluten, the mechanism of which appears to be distinct from that in celiac disease. The increased anti-gliadin antibody response and its association with GI symptoms points to a potential mechanism involving immunologic and/or intestinal permeability abnormalities in affected children.

For those who are suffering with an autistic child or family member, a gluten-free diet might be worth exploring. One remarkable example of the potential for a gluten-free diet to generate great improvement can be viewed on GreenMedTV.com: Boy Recovers from Autism After Going Gluten Free.

 So many of our foods are processed and many products that we use on a daily basis are polluted with toxic chemicals, genetically modified, artificial ingredient and synthetic preservatives are added that is affecting our health and our children’s health. Isn’t it time to stop this contamination and make a healthier future? What we feed our children is so important. Eating organic and local healthy foods and looking to nature for natural and alternative solutions is a giant step forward in changing the future of our world.  Let’s give our children a chance to thrive and change this toxic world.  It is so important that we provide the best care for our children because they are our future and they depend on us to protect them. We all need to live healthy, to change the toxicity in our world, and to live a green lifestyle. We need to make a difference — starting today!

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About the author

Marla

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Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog! I believe in living green, organically, and natural in every aspect of our lives. My mission is to help educate you on how to live green, help save our environment and to help you and your family live a happier, healthier life!