The Link Between Food Allergies and Mental Illness

Introduction

The concept of mental illness involving food allergies goes back to Adelle Davis, Carlton Fredericks, Wendel & Beebe (1973), and more. Adelle Davis and the others thought that schizophrenics were allergic to sugar. Dohan thought that they were allergic to gluten. My view is that sugar is only one of the allergies. The mentally ill are also allergic to protein, particularly tryptophan, an amino acid. The reason why they are allergic to sugar is that sugar has the effect of pumping tryptophan into the brain. This happens by a complex mechanism involving insulin. The sugar allergy is now a standard orthomolecular theory, endorsed by both Linus Pauling and Dr. Abram Hoffer.

Neuropathology

Much of my theory has been derived from neuropathology data, which has a long and rich history. What I have done is put together the pieces of the puzzle, and there are a lot of pieces. Thousands of papers have been written on the neuropathology of schizophrenia and other diseases. Findings date back to times when the word "schizophrenia" had not yet been invented.

In 1871 Hecker reported darkening of the cerebral cortex in "hebephrenia". This could be explained if dark pigments such as neuromelanin or lipofuscin were deposited.

The Basal Ganglia

The basal ganglia include the globus pallidus, the striatum, and other similar structures. Buscaino (1920) of Italy reported cellular alterations in the globus palidus in catatonia. This was later confirmed by Vogt & Vogt of Germany in 1952.

Josephy (1930) and Stevens (1982) both reported increased mineralization of the globus pallidus. Similar findings were later reported by Neuman, who found increased iron deposits.

Hopf (1952) reported reduced Nissl substance and increased lipofuscin in the globus pallidus and the striatum. Cell loss was seen.

I interpret the reduced Nissl substance as possibly signifying an error in amino acid metabolism. My theory is that if aminp acids flood the cells, this could destroy or at least damage the Nissl substance, which houses amino acids.

The Cerebral Cortex