Putting Together Pieces Of The Puzzle

[missy'smom]

In order to understand my kiddo's unique set of challenges,

I've been listening with interest to the conversations about autism that are out there as well as lonewolf's posts recently and in the past about kidney disease. I've been reading up on kidney disease and health as well lately. What I'm getting from what I've been hearing is that for those with kidney disease , or in the case of autism, those with sensitive, overloaded, whatever you call it, immune systems, gluten just tips the scales and is too much of a strain on an already strained system. In the case of autism this seems to result in neurological symptoms, not the same but in a very general way like those with celiac disease. What about those with kidney disease, like the boy that lonewolf is helping? What about kids with ADHD? Do they experience neurological symptoms that change when gluten is removed from the diet like the autistic kids do? In the case of kidney disease and gluten, what about someone with a healthy kidney but only one, could gluten overload their system as well, like those with diseased kidneys or the kids with autism?

The whole Autism-gluten connection makes sense to me and the whole kidney disease(nephrotic)-gluten connection makes sense from what little I've read, I'm wondering about a kidney, ADHD, gluten connection

These are the thoughts and questions rolling around in my mind lately.

[AndreaB]

I don't have any specific answers. I do know that my daughter broke out with HSP (Henoch Scholein Purpura) in February 06. It took a month to come up with a diagnosis. She suffered for over 3 months until we went gluten free after the enterolab tests. We had already been gluten light due to my food intolerances. It went away totally with the gluten free diet. It is a disease that affects the kidneys but I don't know specifically about kidney disease and gluten.

I do know there are other things that could be contributing but the gluten free/casein free diet helps take some of the stress off the immune system. Sugar is also something that can contribute to ADHD. My daughter tends toward some of the ADHD side.....or I should just say HD My oldest son too. With them, metals are playing a part. They also have candida. The gluten free diet hasn't calmed them down. We don't eat refined sugar but do eat things with sugar (like cereal and fruit spread) so I don't know if that would help or not with them.

Children on the autistic specturm generally have problems with metals too.

[missy'smom]

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[Rachel--24]

I just wanted to mention that the kidneys are severely effected by heavy metals...especially mercury....which tends to accumluate especially in the kidneys.

I think that would be the main connection between ASD's and kidney problems.

Today, the main effects of mercury exposure to humans are understood to be neurological, renal (kidney), cardiovascular and immunological impacts. Chronic exposure to mercury can cause damage to the brain, spinal cord, kidneys, liver and developing fetus. Exposure to mercury while in the womb can lead to neurodevelopmental problems in children.

Within the body, the kidneys accumulate the highest concentrations of all forms of mercury, yet mercury can also concentrate in the brain, the central nervous system, the liver, and indeed in most organs in the body.

[UR Groovy]

What I'm getting from what I've been hearing is that for those with kidney disease , or in the case of autism, those with sensitive, overloaded, whatever you call it, immune systems, gluten just tips the scales and is too much of a strain on an already strained system.

This reply is not about celiac. I'm aware that celiac is a whole different animal.

I would tend to agree with this thought most of all. I have the same kidney disease as the boy and lonewolf. I, unlike lonewolf or this boy, am not technically in remission, and I believe that's due to the fact that I'm continuing to over-stress the system with cigarettes. I don't believe I'm Celiac / I don't believe I have a wheat or gluten "allergy". I believe that it's an intolerance due to a weakened immune system and that this compromised system doesn't want to deal with these (sometimes perceived) enemies.

However, in regards to neurological symptoms, I'd like to mention that the depression and anxiety that I suffered in my teens, 20's and 30's has completely disappeared since going gluten-free. I have to believe that many people with ADHD and with kidney disease, or any syndrome that causes immune system short-circuiting would benefit by eliminating these proteins from their diet.

Although my theories continue to change as time goes by, I believe that the connection is an over-stressed immune system (again, I'm not referring to celiac in this case).

[missy'smom]

Thank you again to all who have responded. It is helpful and is in keeping with the train of thought that I've been following lately.