Dr. Tom O'Bryan

Arguably, one of the most researched conditions diagnosed from an Adverse Reaction to Food (ARF) is Celiac Disease-an autoimmune reaction to wheat. Celiac disease has traditionally been clinically considered and then investigated with patients presenting with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. However, for every adverse reaction to wheat presenting with GI symptoms, there are 8 presenting without GI symptoms. Thus, dependence on GI complaints as a prerequisite in considering an adverse reaction to… Show more

Arguably, one of the most researched conditions diagnosed from an Adverse Reaction to Food (ARF) is Celiac Disease-an autoimmune reaction to wheat. Celiac disease has traditionally been clinically considered and then investigated with patients presenting with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. However, for every adverse reaction to wheat presenting with GI symptoms, there are 8 presenting without GI symptoms. Thus, dependence on GI complaints as a prerequisite in considering an adverse reaction to wheat, will allow a majority to escape diagnosis. This is a critical point of recognition for the Clinician when considering an association of wheat related disorders (WRD) and cardiovascular health.
This Chapter will summarize the explosion in studies in the last 15 years of the contribution ofa Wheat Related Disorder to CVD. Show less

In gluten dependent conditions the gluten free diet is the cornerstone of therapy, decreasing disease activity, improving health and quality of life and treating or preventing the associated complications. Gluten withdrawal implies strict and lifelong elimination not only of wheat, barley, rye, and wheat-contaminated oats, but also of numerous non-nutritional products where components of wheat are often added. Due to multiple reasons the diet is difficult to follow and the long-term adherence… Show more

In gluten dependent conditions the gluten free diet is the cornerstone of therapy, decreasing disease activity, improving health and quality of life and treating or preventing the associated complications. Gluten withdrawal implies strict and lifelong elimination not only of wheat, barley, rye, and wheat-contaminated oats, but also of numerous non-nutritional products where components of wheat are often added. Due to multiple reasons the diet is difficult to follow and the long-term adherence is decreased with time. The present review summarizes the dark side of gluten restriction where nutritional deficiencies, toxicity, morbidity, mortality, and mental health problems are reported. The aim being to increase awareness, avoid, detect and treat the side effects and to promote a healthier nutrition, for the patient's benefits. Show less

The consumption of wheat-based products is high in most Western countries (e.g. Europe, United States) and is increasing in Eastern countries as a consequence of a shift toward a Western lifestyle. Historically, Wheat-Related Disorders (WRD) referred only to wheat allergy and celiac disease. In recent years, a growing number of subjects worldwide have reported intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms, without the diagnostic features of celiac disease or wheat allergy. In these subjects, symptoms… Show more

The consumption of wheat-based products is high in most Western countries (e.g. Europe, United States) and is increasing in Eastern countries as a consequence of a shift toward a Western lifestyle. Historically, Wheat-Related Disorders (WRD) referred only to wheat allergy and celiac disease. In recent years, a growing number of subjects worldwide have reported intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms, without the diagnostic features of celiac disease or wheat allergy. In these subjects, symptoms of a wheat-related disorder may originate from non-celiac gluten sensitivity, the non-gluten antibody target protein serpins, purinins, α-amylase/protease inhibitors, globulins, farinins, wheat exorphin sensitivity, wheat germ agglutinin sensitivity, wheat amylase-trypsin inhibitor sensitivity, and/or FODMAP (fermentable oligo-, di-, mono- saccharides and polyols) sensitivity. This article reviews the pertinent literature and presents three pediatric cases of wheat-related disorders that present with varied clinical presentations: liver failure, type 1 diabetes mellitus and a conjunctival tumor believed to be Kaposi’s sarcoma. All conditions responded rapidly to a wheat-free diet. A wheat-related disorder (with or without celiac disease) may affect any organ or system including cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, connective tissue diseases, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, nephritis and others. While there is increasing awareness that wheat-related disorders can manifest with extraintestinal symptoms, clinicians still rely too heavily on the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms to suspect a wheat-related disorder. These three cases showed wheat-related pathogenesis affecting diverse organs, such as the liver, pancreas, or eye, without marked gastrointestinal symptoms. Therefore, in patients with unexplained symptoms, who do not improve with standard therapies, it may be prudent to screen for serological indicators of a WRD. Show less

For anyone worried about any type of brain ailment, ranging from the chronic conditions to simple brain fog and fatigue, this essential guide covers the full spectrum of prevention to treatment.

We've all experienced brain fog - misplaced keys, forgotten facts, a general feeling that you're just feeling off today. And many of us will experience that "fog" manifesting as something more permanent - either in ourselves or our loved ones.

No matter what your current brain health… Show more

For anyone worried about any type of brain ailment, ranging from the chronic conditions to simple brain fog and fatigue, this essential guide covers the full spectrum of prevention to treatment.

We've all experienced brain fog - misplaced keys, forgotten facts, a general feeling that you're just feeling off today. And many of us will experience that "fog" manifesting as something more permanent - either in ourselves or our loved ones.

No matter what your current brain health state may be, You Can Fix Your Brain will enable and empower you to take concrete steps that will make an immediate difference in your brain's vitality, clarity, and energy. Your memory will improve, fogginess will disappear, you'll be less tired all the time, and much more. And, you'll learn that these aren't empty promises. Dr. Tom O'Bryan, author of The Autoimmune Fix, knows how to create lasting changes in health, and he's here to share them with you.

It's a step-by-step approach to better cognitive function - being selective about what's on your fork, what's in your environment, and how you take care of yourself can make a world of difference. With only one hour a week of practice, in six months, you can say goodbye to brain fog and welcome a better long-term memory and a sharper mind.

Includes a PDF of recipes, lists, and graphs. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. Show less

The 'Go-To' reference on understanding where Autoimmune Disease (AID) comes from, why it develops, how it begins years before there are noticeable symptoms and how to 'arrest' and in many cases reverse it. Written with the Einstein Premise 'Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler', the Reviews on Amazon from World-Class Scientists and Physicians says it all. As AID is a primary mechanism in practically all degenerative diseases, everyone will benefit from reading this… Show more

The 'Go-To' reference on understanding where Autoimmune Disease (AID) comes from, why it develops, how it begins years before there are noticeable symptoms and how to 'arrest' and in many cases reverse it. Written with the Einstein Premise 'Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler', the Reviews on Amazon from World-Class Scientists and Physicians says it all. As AID is a primary mechanism in practically all degenerative diseases, everyone will benefit from reading this book. Show less

We report the case of a 63-year-old female with definite unilateral Ménière disease, osteoarthritis of the distal finger joints with mucous cysts and Heberden's nodes, and constipation with recurrent abdominal pain whose symptoms remitted after 6months of a restrictive gluten-free diet.

Despite re-classification of celiac disease as a rare disease of childhood to a common dis- ease affecting men, women and children at any age, most of the three million estimated sufferers remain undiagnosed. Proper education concerning the various symptoms and manifestations of the disease is necessary to increase prompt and accurate diagnosis. Celiac disease’s potentially negative effect on reproductive health is among the most pressing matters associated with advancing awareness. Men and… Show more

Despite re-classification of celiac disease as a rare disease of childhood to a common dis- ease affecting men, women and children at any age, most of the three million estimated sufferers remain undiagnosed. Proper education concerning the various symptoms and manifestations of the disease is necessary to increase prompt and accurate diagnosis. Celiac disease’s potentially negative effect on reproductive health is among the most pressing matters associated with advancing awareness. Men and women with unex- plained infertility, women with recurrent abortions, intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight babies and menstrual disorders are rarely screened for celiac disease despite scientific studies that indicate a correlation. In the following article, we will examine the evidence for these occurrences in a literature review, examine potential the- ories about their cause, and discuss the need for additional research and the addition of a celiac testing to the differential diagnosis in women with reproductive health problems. Show less

Celiac disease and gluten-sensitive enteropathy are terms that have been used to refer to a disease process affecting the small bowel. However, evidence has been accumulated in literature demonstrating that gluten sensitivity or celiac disease can exist even in the absence of enteropathy, but affecting many organs. Based on overwhelming evidence, immunological pathogenesis has been demonstrated in the joint, the heart, thyroid, bone, and, in particular, the brain cerebellum and neuronal… Show more

Celiac disease and gluten-sensitive enteropathy are terms that have been used to refer to a disease process affecting the small bowel. However, evidence has been accumulated in literature demonstrating that gluten sensitivity or celiac disease can exist even in the absence of enteropathy, but affecting many organs. Based on overwhelming evidence, immunological pathogenesis has been demonstrated in the joint, the heart, thyroid, bone, and, in particular, the brain cerebellum and neuronal synapsin I. When blood samples of patients with celiac disease are tested against gliadin and different tissue antigens, in addition to gliadin antibody, a significant percentage of them exhibit elevation in antibodies against transglutaminase, heat shock protein, collagen, thyroid, myosin, endothelial cell, bone antigen (transglutaminase), myelin basic protein, cerebellar and synapsin. This elevation of autoantibodies in patients with celiac disease may result in neuroimmune disorders. In fact, in comparison to the general population, the incidence of various autoimmune disorders, including gluten ataxia, is increased up to 30-fold in patients with celiac disease. Therefore, immune evaluation of patients with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, in addition to gliadin and transglutaminase, should include antibody measurement against thyroglobulin, thyroid peroxidase, heat shock protein, bone transglutaminase, myelin basic protein, cerebellar peptide and synapsin. This novel laboratory approach to gluten sensitivity and autoimmunity may enable clinicians to detect markers of autoimmune diseases. Early identification of gluten sensitive and celiac disease patients and implementation of a gluten-free diet may result in significant improvement and control of associated diseases. Show less

The immunology of gluten hypersensitivity and celiac disease has been pursued with significant interest in the past 20 years. For the prevention of systemic diseases, most pathogens that gain entry into our bodies must be met with an effective immune response, yet in the gastrointestinal tract it is equally important that commensal bacteria and a diverse collection of dietary proteins and peptides be recognized without eliciting an active immune response or constant activation of the… Show more

The immunology of gluten hypersensitivity and celiac disease has been pursued with significant interest in the past 20 years. For the prevention of systemic diseases, most pathogens that gain entry into our bodies must be met with an effective immune response, yet in the gastrointestinal tract it is equally important that commensal bacteria and a diverse collection of dietary proteins and peptides be recognized without eliciting an active immune response or constant activation of the inflammatory pathway. This phenomenon of hyporesponsiveness to food antigens is known as oral tolerance. This oral tolerance to dietary antigens is maintained by three different mechanisms: anergy, cell deletion and immune suppression. However, in the presence of mechanical/chemical stressors and infections, this tolerance may break down, and gut associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) will react to different luminal antigens. The reaction of GALT to these antigens may lead to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, opening of tight junctions, entry of undigested antigens into the circulation, and the subsequent production of IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE antibodies in blood and secretory components. Like any other food hypersensitivity reaction, gluten sensitivity can be divided into immediate and delayed hypersensitivities. In this review an attempt is made first to differentiate immediate hypersensitivity to gliadin, mediated by IgE, from delayed hypersensitivity, which is mediated by IgA and IgG. Furthermore, we attempt to differentiate between gluten hypersensitivity with enteropathy (celiac disease) and gluten hypersensitivity without enteropathy. Show less

The mechanisms behind autoimmune reaction to nervous system antigens in autism are not understood. We assessed the reactivity of sera from 50 autism patients and 50 healthy controls to specific peptides from gliadin and the cerebellum. A significant percentage of autism patients showed elevations in antibodies against gliadin and cerebellar peptides simultaneously. For examining cross-reaction between dietary proteins and cerebellar antigens, antibodies were prepared in rabbits, and binding of… Show more

The mechanisms behind autoimmune reaction to nervous system antigens in autism are not understood. We assessed the reactivity of sera from 50 autism patients and 50 healthy controls to specific peptides from gliadin and the cerebellum. A significant percentage of autism patients showed elevations in antibodies against gliadin and cerebellar peptides simultaneously. For examining cross-reaction between dietary proteins and cerebellar antigens, antibodies were prepared in rabbits, and binding of rabbit anti-gliadin, anti-cerebellar peptides, anti-MBP, anti-milk, anti-egg, anti-soy and anti-corn to either gliadin- or cerebellar-antigen-coated wells was measured. In comparison to anti-gliadin peptide binding to gliadin peptide at 100%, the reaction of anti-cerebellar peptide to gliadin peptide was 22%, whereas the binding of anti-myelin basic protein (MBP), anti-milk, anti-egg and anti-soy to gliadin was less than 10%. Further examination of rabbit anti-gliadin (EQVPLVQQ) and anti-cerebellar (EDVPLLED) 8 amino acid (AA) peptides with human serum albumin (HSA) and an unrelated peptide showed no binding, but the reaction of these antibodies with both the cerebellar and gliadin peptides was greater than 60%. This cross-reaction was further confirmed by DOT-immunoblot and inhibition studies. We conclude that a subgroup of patients with autism produce antibodies against Purkinje cells and gliadin peptides, which may be responsible for some of the neurological symptoms in autism. Show less

Food and nutrients are the original medicine and the shoulders on which modern medicine stands. But in recent decades, food and medicine have taken divergent paths and the natural healing properties of food have been diminished in the wake of modern technical progress. With contributions from highly regarded experts who work on the front-lines of disease management, the bestselling first edition Food and Nutrients in Disease Management (CRC Press 2009) effectively brought food back into the… Show more

Food and nutrients are the original medicine and the shoulders on which modern medicine stands. But in recent decades, food and medicine have taken divergent paths and the natural healing properties of food have been diminished in the wake of modern technical progress. With contributions from highly regarded experts who work on the front-lines of disease management, the bestselling first edition Food and Nutrients in Disease Management (CRC Press 2009) effectively brought food back into the clinical arena, helping physicians put food and nutrients back on the prescription pad.

Written by doctors for doctors, Advancing Medicine with Food and Nutrients, Second Edition reunites food and medicine. Buttressed with new evidence, leading physicians on the forefront of disease management apply the latest scientific advances to the clinical practice of medicine. Each chapter offers adjuncts to standard care, fewer side effects, improved risk reduction, or added quality of life. Show less