Effects Gluten has on Celiac Disease and Autism

**Overview**
of Article

The consumption of gluten
can cause problems for people who have been diagnosed with celiac disease and
autism. Since celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, barley and
rye, eating it triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time,
this reaction produces inflammation that damages the small intestine's lining
and prevents absorption of some nutrients (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013). In autism,
it is believed that children with this disorder may have an allergy or a high
sensitivity to foods containing gluten because their bodies process these
peptides and proteins differently than other people do and that their brain
treats these proteins like false opiate-like chemicals (Gluten-Free and Autism,
2013).

**Symptoms**
of Celiac Disease

There are many symptoms
in children with celiac disease that can cause developmental concerns like:

·
Growth problems

·
Decreased appetite and failure to gain
weight

·
Chronic (bloody) diarrhea/ constipation

·
Abdominal bloating and pain

·
Fatigue

·
Malnourishment

·
Delayed puberty

These problems can
eventually lead to future problems in adulthood like:

·
Anemia (iron deficiency)

·
Joint pain

·
Arthritis

·
 Osteoporosis

The severity of these
symptoms depend on how much damage the disease has done to the intestine before
it was diagnosed (Celiac Disease Symptoms, 2014).

**Treatment**
for Celiac Disease

A gluten-free diet is
very essential and the only treatment for celiac disease. Once gluten is
removed from the diet, inflammation in the small intestine generally begins to
lessen — usually within several weeks, though you may start to feel better in
just a few days. Complete healing and regrowth may take several months to several
years. Healing in the small intestine tends to occur more quickly in children
than adults. Vitamins and medicines to control intestinal inflammation may also
help (Treatments and Drugs, 2013).

**Symptom**
Theories of Autism

There are a few theories
to gluten and its effect on autism, first being that “children with autism are
unable to fully break down gluten and have increased intestinal permeability,
or "leaky guts," so the undigested or partially digested proteins
leak through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream. When they do, the
proteins may reach the brain and can lead to problems with behavior, speech,
and social skills.” Another thought is that children with autism may simply be
in pain and discomfort because of an unknown intolerance to gluten. The last
theory is that when those proteins are gone from the diet, kids tend to feel
better (and even sleep better), so they're more alert, get more out of
therapies, and make greater progress (Sally Kuzemchak, 2012).

**Treatment**
for Autism

Treatment for autism is a
lot less black and white than it is with celiac disease due to the fact there
is controversy in the theory that gluten has a negative effect on children with
autism. There haven’t been an excessive amount of research concluded on this
topic, but a study was done in 2010 of nearly 400 autistic children with the
ages of 4 to 11 years old. The researchers surveyed the parents, and the
results showed that a gluten-free and casein-free diet improved the children’s’
symptoms. Their hyperactivity, temper tantrums, speech skills, eye contact, and
physical ailments have all showed progress in their development. The kids with
the most improvement followed the diet closely for at least six months (Sally
Kuzemchak, 2012).

**Conclusion**

For children with celiac
disease, the consumption of gluten will cause developmental problems. The only
way to treat this is by going on a gluten-free diet. For some children with
autism, it is believed that their symptoms may worsen due to the inflammatory
effect that gluten has on their brain and a gluten-free diet might help them as
well.

**References**

Daniel Amen. (2013,
August 20). Gluten Sensitivity Linked to Autism: The Brain-Gut Connection -
Amen Clinics. Retrieved from http://www.amenclinics.com/blog/gluten-sensitivity-linked-to-autism-the-brain-gut-connection/

Gluten Free/Casein Free
Diets for Autism. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/gluten-free-casein-free-diets-for-autism?page=3

Kuzemchak, S. (2012,
January 1). 8 Facts About the 'Autism Diet' Retrieved April 18, 2015, from
http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/autism/autism-diet/

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013,
May 22). Celiac disease Treatments and drugs - Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/basics/treatment/con-20030410

Symptoms of Celiac
Disease in Children and Adults. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-symptoms?page=2