Can ADHD symptoms actually be a sign of food intolerance or intestinal problems? Some evidence suggests that ADHD is easily mistaken for celiac disease, a condition where a person is intolerant to the plant protein gluten from wehat products. When a child with celiac disease eats pizza, pasta, or any food with wheat in it, the immune system reacts by damaging the upper region of the small intestine. The initial damage only amounts to minor inflammation but if the child continues to eat foods with gluten, painful symptoms and impaired nutrient absorption can occur.
The latter effect is particularly significant. In our previous articles, we have shown how deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, calcium, and other nutrients can trigger or aggravate ADHD symptoms. Iron in particular has been found to be useful in suppressing ADHD symptoms, assuming that there is indeed an iron deficiency. Research shows that a gastro-intestinal system damaged by celiac disease can lead to an iron deficiency, which can complicate things for a child with ADHD.
Celiac disease has also been linked to other common psychological conditions like chronic depression. This could be due to the fact that the gastro-intestinal tract produces 90% of the body’s serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for mood control and feelings of happiness. Another possible reason is that a damaged gastro-intestinal tract might be unable to absorb adequate amounts of tryptophan, the amino acid precursor to serotonin. Tryptophan is found in high concentrations in meats like turkey.
Given that ADHD has so many potential causes, it’s likely that your child’s symptoms may be caused by an underlying factor like celiac disease. You can confirm your suspicions through a combination of lab tests. The first step to a celiac disease diagnosis are blood tests designed to measure levels of a certain auto-antibody. Unlike antibodies, which attack foreign substances and viruses in the body, auto-antibodies target the body’s own tissues. The auto-antibodies measured for celiac disease are immunoglobulin A, anti-endomysium antibodies, and anti-tissue transglutaminase. The blood work might also include a complete blood count to rule out anemia. Other tests you might want to include are nutrient element test to check for vitamin deficiencies and an intestinal permeability test with stool analysis.
The good news is that the effects of celiac disease can be avoided by a gluten-free diet. An Italian study on celiac patients with ADHD symptoms discovered that eliminating gluten for six months reduced the severity of ADHD symptoms. Although the prevalence of wheat products in the typical Western diet might be hard to implement the gluten-free diet on a child, ADHD cookbooks can help you find alternative ingredients for gluten-free cooking and baking.