The Good Doctor Was Right, I Think

I've spoken so much about food sensitivities in bipolar illness.  Well, here's a new one for you that may be helpful for some:

Years ago, I read an article by a doctor who said that bipolar patients have a severe allergy to grains.  For some reason, there was never any real follow-up research done on that idea that I have been able to discover, but it has lingered in my mind for a long time.  I even spoke to my psychiatrist about it, and her response was "well, maybe for you it is a sensitivity".  But she never suggested that others might have the same thing.  I think some of us do.

For example, I tend to gain weight having grains in my diet and have a craving for them which just puts on more weight.  (The rule of thumb is that foods that we are allergic to are often foods to which we are addicted.)  Alcoholism is considered now to be a severe allergy by some physicians.

Recently, I was prescribed Deplin which is folate derived from vegetables and more commonly known as Folic Acid, or Vitamin B9.  Folate is the only form of Vitamin B9 which can cross the blood-brain barrier and enhances the activity of neurotransmitters, increasing their number and activity, as I understand what I've read about Deplin.  It also enhances anti-depressants' activity.

The strangest thing has happened to me since taking Deplin.  My desire for grains has just ceased completely.  Even one or two Nabisco crackers are not very palatable, and the weight is coming off rapidly.

In 70% of depressed people, there is a suboptimal level of folate in the brain, and about 50% of the whole population have decreased levels, as well.  For some, an enzyme is missing in the chemistry of the individual which has as its purpose transforming folic acid into folate.

What this suggests is that for those of us who cannot metabolize Folic Acid properly, Deplin may be the answer to securing adequate amounts to the brain.  I'm also experiencing very calm moods, and I've always known that some grains will cause headaches and irritability for me, particularly rye bread.  (I once had a psychiatrist ask me if there was alcoholism in my family.  There is not, but alcohol is derived from the distillation of grains, in part.)

Mostly, you know me as the one who advocates giving up coffee,alcohol, and chocolate because they make depression and bipolar illness worse.  Here's one now that alleviates some of the illness symptoms in those sensitive to grains.

Another  fact in this that's happening in me in regard to the reduction of grains is that blood glucose levels are normal now.  Of course, grains are converted into starch which becomes glucose, and increases blood glucose levels.

Looking back at this, it seems as if I might be lecturing on grains 101, but I do mean well.  Check out Deplin.com on the internet, please.

It's Genetic

 

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 10/11/2011 10:23:38 AM (GMT-6)

No, CapninHapnin,

I think you've misread the points of the thread.

The fact that 50% of the population has low folate levels is not a determining factor relative to grain sensitivity or folic acid. That 50% may not be eating enough green vegetables if they can convert vitamin B9 to folate--that is, if they have the proper enzymatic ability to convert
folic acid to folate.

Those who lack the enzyme to metabolize folic acid into folate are the
ones who need an intake of folate; it is the folate in the brain that has caused me to have no desire for breads, etc. That may be just a
peculiarity of my sensitivity; but since 70% of depressed people have
low folate levels in the brain, it is very probable that many of them do
not process Vitamin B9 properly, or that certain medications such as Lamictal, Valproic Acid (Depakote) and Metformin (used to treat Diabetes, Type II) cause a decrease in folate in the brain.  There are others, also, but these three are frequently used by bipolar patients or for diabetic, type II, patients.

You should reduce grains only if you have a sensitivity to them, and you may determine that by having blood tests made by an allergist. Or you may discover it yourself by removing grains from your diet for two weeks. If you feel significantly better after that time, you may have a sensitivity to them.

You can't do that with caffeine, however, because caffeine builds into the
organs of the body and is only slowly removed after some months of giving
it up. (It also causes brain damage in long-term use in the lower part of the
brain just above the eyes.)

I'm glad that you've given up alcohol; it does make bipolar illness worse. Caffeine in coffee or any other product does cause symptoms in bipolar illness to be worse. (This from my psychiatrist, CapninHapnin.)

Coffee and chocolate can be loaded with caffeine. I'd ask you to read ruthwhalen.com/caffeine, but you have no intention of giving up chocolate, so you would have no interest in it.

I hope this helps to clarify your understanding of the thread.

My best to you,

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 10/11/2011 1:54:18 PM (GMT-6)

Tortoise, I didn't say that folic acid is a cure for depression. Folic acid
doesn't even reach the brain. It cannot pass the blood-brain barrier.

I think that grains are fortified with Folic Acid, not folate.

What I said is that folate which is derived from a 4-step process that
manufactures folate from folic acid can cross the blood-brain barrier and that some people produce the enzyme to convert folic acid to folate.Some people do not. For those who do not, folate as a supplement may be helpful in assisting with antidepressant activity and
neurotransmitter improvement. One of the reports I read (on the Deplin bibliography) indicated that Lamictal, Metformin, and Depakote all reduce (not deplete) the levels of folate in the brain. There are others, also, and that data is included in the bibliography of Deplin.com

I also said that 70% of depressed patients may have a folate deficiency
caused by several things. It may be a lack of the enzyme that
causes folic acid to be transformed into folate or it may be that one
is taking a psychotropic drug such as Lamictal which has as a side effect the lowering of folate levels in the brain.

I did say that for me, that folate had stopped the craving for grains.

I added at the end of my post to please check out Deplin.com on
the internet. There are a number of additional documents used in
the bibliography of Deplin data that are helpful in understanding the
number of medications that do cause a reduction of folate.

I'm having trouble writing for folks who have a little difficulty integrating information. Please go back and read again the information I wrote about the differences between folic acid, (a synthetic form of
Vitamin B9) and folate; the differences are significant.

I don't think that I ever suggested a cure for depression. The fact that Deplin has helped with calming moods does not mean that the illnesses of depression or bipolar disorder are cured. Far from it, Tortoise; what I suggested is that folate can cross the blood-brain barrier and it is helpful in activity of the anti-depressants and neurotransmitters.

The grain sensitivity that I have just happened to be corrected for me by
having the serendipitous benefit from folate.

Removing grains from the diet for two weeks is one way to test for
grain sensitivity. If one feels better after two weeks of removal of grains from the diet, it may suggest that one has a sensitivity to grains.  If one feels better after a two weeks' elimination of the food, why would one have to add it back to the diet to know that grains pose a sensitivity problem? If you feel better, that's adequate for most.  If people decide to remove grains, then they have to resort to a search of all the foods they eat to make sure they aren't getting grains at the time they are testing themselves.

The easiest method is still to be checked by an allergy specialist which I also mentioned.

I didn't mention a ketogenic diet; I mentioned that I had a sensitivity to grains and that they put weight on me and that removal of them will cause weight loss.  I didn't provide a confirmation for that data because most people recognize that from their own personal experience. So will a lot of other things, but I didn't discuss that.

Some time ago you and I discussed a diet that lowered the levels of carbohydrates in the diet, and you wrote about how the ketogenic aspect of the diet you went on was helpful and provided significant energy boost for you. Since then, I have written several times about the fact that ketogenic diets may cause serious harm to individuals, especially as they get older and encounter excessive build up of fat in the arteries. I even discussed such a diet (that was the boon of a New York physician) with my doctor, and he felt that the physician in New York (with whom he had debated on the ketogenic diet) should be barred from the practice of medicine.

Chocolate contains theobromine which is a close first cousin to caffeine and to theophylline in tea. All three of them are irritants to some people and cause symptoms.  Chocolate, when eaten when one has a sinus infection, is like adding gasoline to a fire--that from a physician.  So it has its place in removal from the diet in those sensitive to it.  And often people who are sensitive to caffeine will also be sensitive to chocolate and tea, as well, although milk is supposed to offset the effects of tannin in tea.

I am also interested in protecting the forum members, Tortoise, and often provide sources for the data I use.  I don't want people to misunderstand the information that I post or think that it is strange or difficult to understand.  I believe you know that I have folks' best interests at heart.

Well, that's enough.

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 10/13/2011 9:44:06 AM (GMT-6)

Thank you, DavidPharmboy, for responding with additional information.

I agree with you that this is an important finding in science regarding

improvement in neurotransmitter work in the brain.

When you say that you work with Deplin, do you mean that you take Deplin or that you are employed by the company that manufactures Deplin?

I understood that 7.5mg once daily was the standard prescribed dosage. 15 mg. daily is used, no doubt, for greater need for dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin neurotransmitter increase and quality of effectiveness.

How have you noticed improvement, if you are taking it?

One question:  since tryptophan doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier, (only

5htpTryptophan can do that) is methylfolate able to transform tryptophan so that it enters the brain having been altered appropriately by methylfolate?  Or must one also take 5htpTryptophan to obtain quality

benefits from Deplin?  I haven't seen that anywhere in my research.

 I think it's very effective and am grateful for its availability now. 

Thanks again.

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 10/13/2011 9:48:21 AM (GMT-6)