So this is a bit of a sensitive subject for me. But I would like to learn the current science on this condition- I’ve seens some threads aobut this but not this specific question.
I know someone who is treated by a doctor who is described to me as kind of hybrid naturopath, an MD who is open to alternative treatments- first sort of red flag for me there.
This person had gastrointestinal distress and neurological symptoms like minor seizures for years, and was bounced around from doctor to doctor with little success until this doctor, who did some blood tests and a scope for celiac sprue. The results were inconclusive, but the doc recommended a tryout of the gluten-free diet anyway.
There have been tremendous symptom improvements, and no neurological problems since the diet began- it seems like it’s working great. How well-supported is the idea of a non-celiac gluten intolerance? Where can I learn more about the condition from a hard science perpective? There seem to be a lot of people who self-diagnose this, which is another red flag.
More studies need to be done obviously, but I have noticed improvements in other peoples autistic children with removal of gluten.
Could all be in the head I suppose but the medical world needs to study it a bit more before heads or tails can be made out of it. IMHO of course.
I’ve done some reading on gluten intolerance since I’m lactose intolerant and the two are closely connected.
What I’ve learned to emphasize is that the important factor is the symptomatic relief. There is no good reason for a gluten-free diet to create such a change unless there was an underlying cause. Damage to the intestinal villi can have many causes, but the results are similar.
Certainly your friend should continue to explore proper diagnosis to see if there are other steps that need to be taken. And not from a naturopath. Neurological symptoms need expertise.