MENTAL SYMPTOMS OF FOOD ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE: SCHIZOPHRENIA
One mental disorder, schizophrenia, deserves special mention here because it has been strongly linked with food sensitivity by some doctors. The idea originated with the observation that it was more common among those with coeliac disease than among the population at large. Coeliac disease is an extreme sensitivity to wheat that causes damage to the structure of the small intestine (see pl36). Because of the damage to the gut wall, there is often a greater absorption of intact food molecules, which creates the potential for further food sensitivities.
The earliest studies designed to test this idea gave promising results. A gluten-free, milk-free diet produced fewer symptoms in some schizophrenics, while feeding extra gluten made the symptoms worse. Later studies failed to find any response, for the most part, although one found that two out of 16 schizophrenics responded. It may be that gluten is important, but only in a fairly small proportion of schizophrenia cases.
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