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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA July, 1999

University of Florida researchers reported in the March 1999 issue of the journal Autism findings from two novel animal studies indicating autism and schizophrenia may be linked to an individual's inability to properly break down a protein found in milk.

The digestive problem might actually lead to the disorders' symptoms, whose basis has long been debated, said UF physiologist Dr. J. Robert Cade. Further research is needed before scientists have a definitive answer. When not broken down, the milk protein produces exorphins, morphine-like compounds that are then taken up by areas of the brain known to be involved in autism and schizophrenia, where they cause cells to dysfunction.

The animal findings suggest an intestinal flaw, such as a malfunctioning enzyme, is to blame, says Cade, whose team also is putting the theory to the test in humans. Preliminary findings from that study - which showed 95 percent of 81 autistic and schizophrenic children studied had 100 times the normal levels of the milk protein in their blood and urine - have been presented at two international meetings in the past year but have not yet been published.

When these children were put on a milk-free diet, at least eight out of 10 no longer had symptoms of autism or schizophrenia, says Cade, a professor of medicine and physiology at UF's College of Medicine and inventor of the Gatorade sports drink. His research team includes research scientist Dr. Zhongjie Sun and research associate R. Malcolm Privette.

"We now have proof positive that these proteins are getting into the blood and proof positive they're getting into areas of the brain involved with the symptoms of autism and schizophrenia," Cade said. In the UF studies, researchers injected rats with the protein beta- casomorphin-7, one of the key constituents of milk and the part that coagulates to make cheese. They then observed their behavior and later examined brain tissue to see whether the substances accumulated there.

Beta-casomorphin-7 was taken up by 32 different areas of the brain, Cade said, including sections responsible for vision, hearing and communication. This could explain several of the things one sees in autism and schizophrenia, such as hallucinations," her said. "If part of the brain puts out a false signal because of casomorphin, it could result in the person seeing something that's not really there; either a visual or auditory hallucination could occur."

There are a whole number of behaviors that the rat has after beta-casomorphin-7 that are basically the same as one sees in the human with autism or schizophrenia," he added. "if we ring a bell beside a rat's cage, it normally looks up to see where the noise is coming from. But the rats after beta-casomorphin-7 didn't do that - they were completely oblivious to the bell-ringing above them. This struck us as interesting because many mothers of autistic children comment that they seem at times to be totally deaf - they talk to their children and they just don't seem to hear them."

Researchers suspect the process begins in the intestine where the body absorbs the protein when a person eats foods containing it. "We think this process is linked to the production of antibodies in the gut when you eat something you're sensitive to," Cade said, "Both schizophrenics and autistics have a high incidence of (certain) antibodies, and have high incidence of diarrhea, which points to an intestinal disorder." So we think that with autism and schizophrenia, the basic disorder is in the intestine, and these individuals are absorbing beta-casomorphin-7 that they normally should break down in the body as amino acids, rather than peptide chains up to 12 amino acids long." (for additional information call
352-392-2621) (this text written by Melanie Fridl Ross were taken from the June 22, 1999 issue of Vital Signs.)

(editor's note: There are also some children falling within the autism spectrum who do not have diarrhea but when tested also show (certain) high antibodies. Please note also that some of these antibodies found in the gut can be caused by other foods as well. This is why the gluten and casein free diet is best done in elimination stages starting with milk first (casein), then followed with wheat (gluten). Some parents continue on with eliminating other
foods which they feel may be contributing to autistic symptoms. Remember that foods eliminated must be substituted with foods of equal nutritional value. It is best to consult with a nutritionist when starting this diet to properly insure your child's adequate nutritional intake.)