Gluten intolerance: a paradigm of an epidemic

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Dec, 2002 by Stacy Astor Shaul

The effects of opioids on the body are numerous. (14) "Opioid peptides are key signaling molecules between the endocrine, immune, brain nerve tissues, and the pineal complex, the latter is particularly associated with circadian rhythms." (15) Any abnormal alteration in the quantity of these peptides will have a detrimental effect on all of these systems. Some of the other effects on the body are decreased gastric acid secretion, reduced glutathione levels, immune system depression and modulation of cholecystokinin levels. All of these effects contribute to the inhibition of normal brain, bodily function and growth.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

A growing body of research is also implicating peptides as a factor in ADHD. (16-18) A study on children diagnosed with ADD showed they had peptide containing complexes in their urine, which seems to be related to hyperactivity. (19) "Hypoarousal, in some regions of the brain, has long been recognized as a feature of ADHD. The possibility that there is a narcotic effect from opioid peptides is very consistent with such reduced arousal, with comorbid learning disabilities, and with the DSM IV observation that ADHD children "often appear as if their mind is elsewhere or as if they are not listening or did not hear what has just been said (Criterion Alc)." (20)

Overlapping Syndromes

Malcolm Hooper from the University of Sunderland has found that Autistic, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, ADHD and Gulf War Syndrome patients have high levels of a metabolite called Indolylacoylglycine (IAG) in their urine. (21) IAG is derived from abnormal tryptophan metabolism and is a metabolite of indol-3-ylacrylic acid (IacrA). It is indicative of a malfunctioning digestive system, which in turn leads to the development of opioids from gluten and casein.

Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) has also been associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) in the sharing of symptoms and biochemical abnormalities. (22) Symptoms often include: fatigue; joint pain, headache, cognition/memory problems; sleep disturbances; depression/anxiety; skin problems; gastrointestinal disturbances; eye problems; allergies/chemical sensitivity; cardiac arrythmias; etc.

They also tend to share biochemical abnormalities such as vitamin/mineral deficiencies, fatty acid imbalances, amino acid imbalance/deficiencies, liver function abnormalities, immune system irregularities, hormonal imbalances, heavy metal toxicity, gastrointestinal dysbiosis and overgrowths of fungus, parasites and bacteria. Research is finally tying these syndromes together and calling them "Overlapping Syndromes." Other conditions considered to be associated with Overlapping Syndromes include Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. "It is clear that a number of understood chronic conditions appear to share a common set of biochemical markers.... These shared characteristics are part of common mechanisms of pathology associated with a number of overlapping syndromes." (23)