Basic and Applied Research on Mental Diseases

Science is used in all other branches of medicine. Why not use science in psychiatry? It seems that almost any medical problem that slows the brain's production of ATP results in psychiatric problems. This is seen in various types of avitaminosis. In pellagra the is a deficiency of niacin. Dementia is seen. The treatment is to give a lot of niacin. The reason that mental symptoms are seen is that niacin is required for the enzyme NAD. This enzyme is necessary for energy metabolism.

Ref. 12 discusses vitamin B12, which contains cobalt, a mineral. A shortage of B12 results in pernicious anemia. There isn't enough red blood cells. This slows the oxygen delivery to the brain. This in turn slows brain energy metabolism, which produces ATP. Psychiatric symptoms are seen.

Craig's List of Problems with Psychiatric Symptoms

Refs. 14 and 15 discuss homocystinuria, which is an amino acid disease. Sometimes psychiatric symptoms are seen. There are excesses of homocystine and methionine. Another amino acid disease which presents with psychiatric symptoms is PKU.

In acute intermittent porphyria there is a defect in tryptophan metabolism (due to a shortage of heme). This results in tryptophan accumulating and poisoning the brain. Psychiatric symptoms are seen. My theory is that the brain is burning tryptophan instead of glucose for fuel. This results in less ATP being produced.

Linus Pauling had a theory that mental illness was caused by a deficiency localized to the brain. This may be correct. The deficiency may be in ATP.

Yet another example is celiac disease. Refs. 3, 4, 6, and 7 discuss this. It seems that the amino acid glutamine goes haywire due to a transport error in the intestines. This causes problems in the brain. Psychiatric symptoms are seen. My theory is that the brain is burning glutamine for fuel instead of glucose. Glucose is the normal fuel for the brain. Amino acids can be burned in an emergency, but they don't produce as much ATP (stored chemical energy).

Gilka

Gilka (ref. 5) favored a diet low in tryptophan and also low in methionine. In 1975 he proposed that schizophrenia was an error in tryptophan metabolism. He felt that a methylated toxin caused schizophrenia. Although his views were not identical to mine, I was very impressed by his report. I also feel that a methylated toxin causes schizophrenia. I feel that depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), autism, ADHD, panic disorder, etc. are similar. There could be more than one toxin.

Conclusions

My own views are extensively discussed in the Associated Content references. These are links to full text articles that are free. I have also posted some slide shows on my theories at Gather.com. Although Gilka did not call his diet orthomolecular, I feel that his diet was orthomolecular.

References

1. Hall K. Allergy of the nervous system: a review. Ann Allergy 1976;36:49-64 [review].

2. Kety SS. Editorial: Dietary factors and schizophrenia. Ann Intern Med 1976;84:745 [editorial].

3. Ross-Smith P, Jenner FA. Diet (gluten) and schizophrenia. J Hum Nutr 1980;34:107-12 [review].

4. Dohan FC. Genetic hypothesis of idiopathic schizophrenia: its exorphin connection. Schizophr Bull 1988;14:489-94.

5. Gilka L. Schizophrenia, a disorder of tryptophan metabolism. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 1975;258:1-83.

6. Dohan FC, Grasberger JC. Relapsed schizophrenics: earlier discharge from the hospital after cereal-free, milk-free diet. Am J Psychiatry 1973;130:685-8.

7. Singh MM, Kay SR. Wheat gluten as a pathogenic factor in schizophrenia. Science 1976;191:401-2.

8. Vlissides DN, Venulet A, Jenner FA. A double-blind gluten-free/gluten-load controlled trial in a secure ward population. Br J Psychiatry 1986;148:447-52.

9. Davis C. Dietary pathogenesis of schizophrenia: an investigation into the effects of gluten. Nurs Times 1978;74:2020-1.

10. Potkin SG, Weinberger D, Kleinman J, et al. Wheat gluten challenge in schizophrenic patients. Am J Psychiatry 1981;138:1208-11.

11. Storms LH, Clopton JM, Wright C. Effects of gluten on schizophrenics. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1982;39:323-7.

12. Carney MW, Sheffield BF. Associations of subnormal serum folate and vitamin B12 values and effects of replacement therapy. J Nerv Ment Dis 1970;150:404-12.

13. Procter A. Enhancement of recovery from psychiatric illness by methylfolate. Br J Psychiatry 1991;159:271-2.

14. Freeman JM, Finkelstein JD, Mudd SH. Folate-responsive homocystinuria and "schizophrenia." A defect in methylation due to deficient 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase activity. N Engl J Med 1975;292:491-6.

15. Folate-responsive homocystinuria and "schizophrenia."Nutr Rev 1982;40:242-5.

16. Ko SM, Liu TC. Psychiatric syndromes in pernicious anaemia-a case report. Singapore Med J 1992;33:92-4.

17. www.associatedcontent.com/article/1620292/concepts_of_schizophrenia.html

18. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/823035/fruits_vegetables_their_value_and_composition.html

19. www.associatedcontent.com/article/1600407/a_review_of_microscopy_studies_of_mental.html