Gama amino butyric acid, also called GABA, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system. This means that GABA helps to calm down responses and reactions to external and internal stimuli. Though it is in areas throughout the brain, there is an increase of GABA in brain regions related to memory and higher-order thinking. GABA levels, both high and low, have been linked to major mental illnesses including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety and bipolar disorder, as well as to epilepsy. When looking at the relationship between gluten and GABA, the arenas of mental health and neurology hold a great breadth of information.
GABA, Gluten and Schizophrenia
In 2009, doctors Bryan Kraft and Eric Westman published a study of a patient whose longstanding symptoms of schizophrenia were greatly reduced when she eliminated gluten and carbohydrates from her diet. The case discussion, published in the journal "Nutrition and Metabolism," details how diets high in gluten have been shown to increase rates of schizophrenia. The hypotheses drawn from this data suggest that at the cellular level, decreasing carbohydrates increases the amount of GABA flowing through the central nervous system. When this occurs, the excitatory signals behind psychotic and disruptive behaviors are quieted.
Carbohydrates and Epilepsy
Historically, epilepsy has been difficult to treat. Even with advanced medications, many patients still suffer from uncontrollable seizures. One way medications attempt to control seizure activity is by enhancing the amount of GABA in the system. If GABA slows brain activity, it may also quell seizure activity. An alternative way that doctors attempt to treat epilepsy is called the ketogenic diet. This diet involves a severe restriction of gluten and carbohydrates. In a study conducted in Connecticut in 2011 and published in "Neurophysiology," researchers looked at epilepsy via rat models to show that lower carbohydrates led to a decrease in activity in the areas of the brain known to house large quantities of GABA as a way to control seizure activity.
GABA and Pain Management
GABA has been implicated in the management of chronic pain, specifically various types of neuropathy, or pain in the peripheral nervous system. Medications such as neurontin and gapapentin increase the levels of GABA, which helps to decrease pain signals. In 2010, researchers in the United Kingdom examined the role of gluten in patients with these kinds of neuropathies. They asked a group of patients with specific nerve pain to limit the gluten in their diets. The results, published in the journal "Neurology," showed that of 15 patients who went on a gluten-free diet, 11 showed improvement.
Nutrition, GABA and Health
Consistent research suggests a relationship between gluten, GABA and mental health, as well as certain neurological disorders. At the time of publication, neither the FDA nor the American Medical or Psychological Associations have approved gluten-free diets as treatment for these illnesses. However, people interested in trying a gluten-free diet as alternative treatment should consult a physician and registered dietitian for safe and healthy options.
References
- "Journal of Neurophysiology"; A Ketogenic Diet Reduces Long-term Potentiation in the Dentate Gyrus of Freely Behaving Rats; J.L. Koranda, et al.; 2011
- "Nutrition and Metabolism"; Schizophrenia, Gluten, and Low-carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diets: A Case Report and Review of the Literature; Bryan Kraft and Eric Westman; 2009
- "Neurology"; Sensory Ganglionopathy Due to Gluten Sensitivity; M. Hadjivassiliou, et al.; 2010
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