The question of whether there is gluten (in the form of wheat, rye, barley
and/or oat protein) and casein (from cow's milk) in breastmilk is currently a
hot topic on the other list of which I am a regular reader---the Gluten Free
Casein Free Diet (GFCF). GFCF diets are becoming increasingly popular as a
treatment for children with autism and autism spectrum disorders. It appears
that with some children on the spectrum, casein and gluten act as opiates on
the brain, which intensifies autistic behaviors and learning problems. The
diet also ties in with the belief that the children's guts were damaged (are
permeable), much like those of celiac disease sufferers.
While I was suspicious, I've tried it on my boys (both of whom are autistic),
and I have to say there are significant improvements. I am becoming a
believer.
This of course leads to all sorts of breastfeeding related questions,
including Barbara Montague's about celiac disease. It is my presumption that
yes, cow's milk does contain gluten if they are eating these grains as feed.
Do I have the research to back it up? No. But think about how dairy
proteins (casein) can transfer into mother's milk and cause problems in
sensitive babies. Wheat gluten/protein and cow's milk proteins are very
similar. It would make sense that they would transfer in similar ways. If a
celiac can't have any gluten at all, then cow's milk from grain-fed animals
is off the list.
Now here's another question. In addition to eliminating all casein and
gluten, part of the GFCF diet therapy to repair the gut for some people
includes supplementation with glutamine, zinc, vitamin B6 and other nutrients
and amino acids found in breast milk. It would make sense to me that by
relactating a woman could provide these, and more benefits, to a child on
this therapy, provided of course, she herself was gluten and casein free.
What do you all think of this?
And while I'm jamming up the digest, one more question. Ruth Lawrence says
"physiochemical differences exist between human and cow caseins. Casein has
a species specific amino acid composition." (p. 117 of her book), but some
peds are telling mothers to discontinue breastfeeding because "casein is
casein". Based on Lawrence, I disagree with this. Am I right?
As you probably can tell, besides breastfeeding, autism (causes, treatments
and a cure) is my other life crusade.
Barbara Ash, MA, IBCLC
Canberra, Australia
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