Mental Health Disorders and Celiac Disease EP058

An estimated 50% of Americans are on some type of psychotropic drug. Half of the US population!

What is causing such widespread prevalence of mental health disorders? Prescription anti-depressants and sedatives don’t solve the underlying problem…  So how do we get to the bottom of this? 

The Gluten Free RN contends that there may be a connection between mental health and undiagnosed celiac disease. Today she explains how several disorders (anxiety, depression and paranoia, among others) have been linked to gluten, discussing how a leaky blood-brain barrier can lead to hypoxia, an inflammation of the brain.

Nadine walks us through the best research in mental health disorders and gluten sensitivity, sharing two landmark studies that emphasize the gut/brain connection and characterize celiac disease as primarily a neurological disorder. Nadine offers her insight around working with schizophrenic patients and the increasing number of children suffering from anxiety. Listen in to understand how gluten impacts your mental health, and learn how to eliminate brain fog, get off prescription meds, and enjoy a higher quality of life!

What’s Discussed: 

The connection between gluten and hypoxia

• Leaky blood-brain barrier leads to inflammation of brain, decreased oxygen flow

The shocking statistics around Americans and psychotropic drugs

• Estimated 50% of US population on psychotropic medication

The potential relationship between mental health disorders and undiagnosed celiac disease

• High instance of depression, anxiety, fatigue and paranoia
• May have difficulty sleeping, headaches or seizure disorder
• Nearly all experience brain fog

The health consequences of undiagnosed celiac disease

• Malabsorption of nutrients
• Damaged immune system
• Neurological symptoms
• Hormonal imbalance
• Neurotransmitter disruption

The findings of the landmark Cooke study in 1966

• Ten of 16 patients with celiac disease had severe progressive neuropathy
• All 16 had severe malabsorption

The conclusion of an editorial published in Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

• Celiac disease, NCGS is primarily neurological

How a gluten-free diet can resolve gastrointestinal and psychiatric symptoms

• Celiac disease can manifest as depression, anxiety or psychosis
• Research published in International Journal of Celiac Disease demonstrates gut/brain connection

Nadine’s experience with schizophrenia patients

• Majority are gene positive for HLA-DQ2, HLA-DQ8

The increasing number of children diagnosed with anxiety disorder

• May be caused by undiagnosed sensitivity to gluten

The concept of food as medicine

• Body may read gluten as toxic, must remove from diet

Resources:

‘Gluten Sensitivity as a Neurological Illness’ in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

‘Psychiatric Complications of Celiac Disease’ in the International Journal of Celiac Disease

‘Genetic Hypothesis of Idiopathic Schizophrenia: Its Exorphin Connection’ in Schizophrenia Bulletin

‘Markers of Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease in Bipolar Disorder’ in Bipolar Disorders

‘Neurologic and Psychiatric Manifestations of Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity’ in Psychiatric Quarterly

‘Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Celiac Disease’ in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment

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‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube

Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine

Books by Nadine:

Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism