Autism and Leaky Gut: Often Together

Celiac Disease: Bowel and Brain Symptoms
June 23, 2007
Black Swan Thinking: Brain Evidence Rethought
June 25, 2007

If we do any work ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, we really must know gut physiology.

Just looking further at Autism Info and thought we should review some of their comments on this remarkably common presentation. And – you don't have to have autism to have a significant leaky gut.

The leaky gut syndrome is the name given to a very common health disorder in which the basic organic defect (lesion) is an intestinal lining which is more permeable (porous) than normal. The abnormally large spaces present between the cells of the gut wall allow the entry of toxic material into the bloodstream that would, in healthier circumstances, be repelled and eliminated. The gut becomes leaky in the sense that bacteria, fungi, parasites and their toxins, undigested protein, fat and waste normally not absorbed into the bloodstream in the healthy state, pass through a damaged, hyperpermeable, porous or "leaky gut."

You can be leaky with leaking fecal material into your peritoneal cavity.

Constipation or diarrhea, it doesn't matter, that bowel, the first line sewage treatment plant, is rusty if not broken.

And if it isn't working, who picks up the slack with all that trash? Your liver. And if your liver continues to try to handle all that mess for a long period of time… one significant result: a bulletproof liver, noted here at CorePsychBlog previously.

Bulletproof liver? Even the supplements won't work – much less any psych meds – to control behavior.

8 Comments

  1. DS says:

    Hi Dr Parker,

    I was a patient of your about 1 year on and thanks to your help then remotely (as I am based in the UK) I am much improved.

    I wanted to make contact again to ask if you were able to clear up a fact or myth for me:

    Are IgG Food sensitivities caused by a leaky gut (intestinal permeability) or are they separate entities. IE if you do not have a leaky gut will you not have IgG food sensitivities?

    Oh and I wanted to ask if you have any feedback on Ketogenic Diets – I have found them hugely beneficial for controling Type 1 Diabetes instead of guessing with Insulin and having out of control sugars. From the literature I have read Ketogenic diets are beneficial on the brain whilst Hypo & Hyperglycaemia are severely detrimental.

    All the best.
    DS

    • Hi DS,
      Pleased to hear from you, and very pleased our work together helped.

      IgG Food Sensitivities cause leaky gut [LG] as they corrupt the villi/cellular junctions. These LG challenges, from my experience, always [and I don’t ordinarily think categorically 😉 ] reside downstream from IgG sensitivities – the underlying cause [after genetic mishaps and other misidentified comorbid conditions like depression] for most treatment failures in psychiatry. You will be interested to see the links on tests and references I’ve added since our conversation… especially the /candida, /biofilm, and /gt – genetic testing links here: http://corepsych.com/tests14

      Completely agree on the value of Ketogenic Diets and do see their value for several conditions – including the Candida noted above – Brain Fuel!
      Thanks for dropping by…
      cp

      • DS says:

        Hi Dr Parker,

        Thanks again for your explanation which understand & trust. Interestingly here in the UK homeopathic/alternative practitioners (often with minimal qualifications) propagate the myth that if you avoid IgG food sensitivities will “heal”!

        I will continue to avoid the dreaded Milk/Eggs & Gluten trifecta.

        Thanks for the heads up on the additional tests.

        Keep up the good work – wish there was someone of your calibre in the UK.

        34 degrees im off outside.
        All the best.
        DS

        • DS,
          A current favorite and interesting site is LondonReal.tv… Perhaps I can get over there one day to review the remarkable new haps in brain science. You will like Brian Rose, he’s an interesting guy with some terrific interviews.
          Thanks again,
          cp

  2. m82 says:

    So how do you fix that?

  3. Victoria,
    Celiac is part of the tip of the iceberg with underlying gluten sensitivity. Another part of that tip is ADD, and yes, ASD. Leaky gut, ADD, ASD and celiac are all often downstream from gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity creates significant autoimmunity issues with subsequent brain consequences.

    Some ASD subsets have celiac upstream as well, but not always. That gluten sensitivity can significantly contribute to the difficulties of efforts to treat ASD.

    Gluten sensitivity brings many disturbing consequences, impaired gut physiology, micronutrient loss, and often associated neurophysiologic consequences such symptoms that appear ADD.

    Gluten sensitivity [arriving as “silent celiac”] can appear early in childhood with symptoms of ADD, and, interestingly, meds fix the symptoms pretty well at first. Meds, however, often don’t work for the long haul for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the amino acids used for generating those necessary neurotransmitters are not properly absorbed.

    “Leaky gut” is the bowel consequence of gluten sensitivity, ADD can be one brain consequence, and hypothyroidism, and adrenal
    fatigue can present at additional downstream medical issues.

    So short answer: no they are not the same thing, but all three can, have similar causes [etiologies] with gluten sensitivity.
    Thanks
    Chuck

  4. Victoria says:

    So, what are the odds that leaky gut and celiac disorder actually have the same root causes and treatments, since they seem to have many of the same symptoms? since I have been diagnosed with both ADD and Celiac, am I dealing with two separate entities, or one that is causing the other? If one of 133 adults has Celiac, and one of 120 children has an ASD, it seems like the numbers are so close that it might actually be the same problem??