Autism Studies and Related Medical Conditions, January 2009 - TACA

Four aspects of clinical evidence for an association between gluten and schizophrenia
are examined. The scientific evidence for the role of gluten is set out. Finally, reference
is made to other dietary approaches.
Zioudrou C, Streaty RA, Klee WA: Opioid peptides derived from food proteins. The
exorphins. J. Biol. Chem.1979 / 254 (7) / 2446-2449.
Abstract: Peptides with opioid activity are found in pepsin hydrolysates of wheat
gluten and alpha-casein. The opioid activity of these peptides was demonstrated by use
of the following bioassays: 1) naloxone-reversible inhibition of adenylate cyclase in
homogenates of neuroblastoma X-glioma hybrid cells; 2) naloxone-reversible inhibition
of electrically stimulated contractions of the mouse vas deferens; 3) displacement of
[3H]dihydromorphine and [3H-Tyr, dAla2]met-enkephalin amide from rat brain
membranes. Substances which stimulate adenylate cyclase and increase the
contractions of the mouse vas deferens but do not bind to opiate receptors are also
isolated from gluten hydrolysates. It is suggested that peptides derived from some food
proteins may be of physiological importance.
Panksepp J: A neurochemical theory of autism. Point of View, North-Holland
Biomedical Press, Jul 1979.
Hole K, Bergslien AA, Jørgensen H, Berge O-G, Reichelt KL & Trygstad
OE:(1979) A peptide containing fraction from schizophrenia which stimulates opiate
receptors and inhibits dopamine uptake. Neuroscience, 4, 1139-1147. [No abstract
available]
Dohan FC: Schizophrenia and neuroactive peptides from food. Lancet 1979 May
12;1(8124):1031. [No abstract available]
Brantl V, Teschemacher H: Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 1979 Apr
30;306(3):301-4. A material with opioid activity in bovine milk and milk products.
Abstract: Chloroform-methanol extracts of lyophilized milk, of commercially available
dried milk or baby food and of casein digests were tested for opioid activity on the
guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparation. Compounds with
opioid activity--which proved to be resistant to peptidases--were detected in certain
batches of baby food, casein digest, and cow milk in considerably varying amounts.
Ashkenazi et. al: "Immunologic reaction of psychotic patients to fractions of gluten"
Am J Psychiat 1979; 136: 1306-1309.
Abstract: Production of a leukocyte migration inhibition factor by peripheral blood
lymphocytes in response to challenge with gluten fractions was studied in hospitalized
patients with schizophrenia and other psychoses compared with normal individuals and
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