Without any other treatment, her “sarcoma” gradually regressed and disappeared completely within two months. After nine months of follow-up, she was completely asymptomatic and the tumor had not recurred (Tuncer, S. et al. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2010; 58(5): 433-434).

A Role in Psychosis

Dr. O’Bryan contends that gluten and possibly other food allergens do play a role in the etiology of psychotic states in some patients. He pointed to the case of a 14-year-old girl who presented with a range of symptoms including irritability, daily headaches, concentration difficulties, sleep problems, behavioral alterations, complex hallucinations, abdominal pain, and weight loss.

Her school performance was deteriorating and her mother noted severe halitosis, which she’d never exhibited previously. The patient was referred to a local neuropsychiatric outpatient clinic, where the physicians diagnosed a conversion somatic disorder, and prescribed benzodiazepines (Lionetti, et al. Nutrients. 2015; 7(7): 5532-5539).

After several years of worsening gastrointestinal symptoms and continued weight loss, the family consulted a nutritionist, who recommended that the young woman go on a GFD with the goal of ameliorating the gastrointestinal symptoms.