Gluten and Depression

For many years, anecdotal evidence has linked depression and gluten (along with more serious mental disorders, including schizophrenia). Scientists, and doctors in particular pay little or no attention to this type of evidence, but new discoveries have begun to throw light on what's going on.

Clinical depression is linked with serotonin levels in the brain, leading to new types of anti-depressants, including SSRIs (Prozac is the most well known brand). But these new drugs have some problems. Although initially hailed as dependency-free and safe, there has been a worrying rise in suicide amongst users, and some patients have had difficulty in getting off them.

Serotonin is a natural substance produced in the body. This natural production is impaired or reduced in some, including depressives. The reasons are not yet completely clear, but 90% of serotonin production occurs in the digestive tract. So it begins to make sense that food might have an effect, either positive or negative, on serotonin production.

A report by Ron Hoggan M.A. & James Braly M.D. points to morphine-like substances caused by incomplete digestion of proteins in cereal grains and dairy products (called "exorphins"). It's thought these exorphins can be absorbed through the intestine - which might explain the psychiatric effects experienced by otherwise healthy people.

Another report by Alessio Fasano and Carlo Catassi talks about an "Asymptomatic Silent Form" of celiac disease (asymptomatic refers only to the lack of positive test results). Possible symptoms of this form of gluten intolerance are: iron deficiency, a tendency to depression, irritability, or impaired school performance in children, "feeling always tired," easy fatigue during exercise and reduced bone mineral density.

In a lecture he gave in 2002, James V. Croxton, MA talked about new discoveries relating to previously ignored glial cells in the brain, which appear to be closely involved in the immune system and are directly affected by gliadin, part of the gluten found in wheat and other cereals.

Gluten-free diets (sometimes combined with dairy-free) have been used for autism, depression and schizophrenia with some success. Further research may bring a cure. For now, if you have this problem, why not try cutting out gluten for a few weeks?

Take my easy quiz, "Are You Gluten Intolerant?" to see if you're at risk.

A couple of downloadable recipe books:
Gluten Free-Easy
Gluten and Dairy Free-Easy
Both contain over 200 recipes.