Could behaviour cause digestive issues?

[Ivar T]

There appears to be many anecdotes that indicate that people on the autistic spectrum more commonly have digestive issues, aswell as a few studies - although many of these might be viewed upon as dubious as they promote vaccine/autism and secretin/autism ideas. Among the first of these studies are Andrew Wakefield's from 1998, which the investigative journalist Brain Deer claims to be faked.

Donna Williams, who has been seeing Paul Shattock - an advocate of the MMR/autism idea, has apparently promoted the idea of a relationship between gastrointestinal issues and autism, aswell as various alternative therapies to treat these. This claimed relationship is often used to support the 'leaky gut' and 'opioid excess' theory for autism, and at least in my country, digestive issues among autistics are said to be treatable by gluten and casein free diets.

I am not certain as to whether or not there are more digestive issues among people on the autistic spectrum, however, if there were to be more digestive issues I would also consider the possibility that this might be caused by behaviour - and not as much the other way around.

Here are some of my ideas of how autistic behavior could cause increased digestive issues:

Autistics might not be as thorough when chewing their food - or at least I have been said to be.

Autistics might be sitting more than an avarage person - I believe that I've heard that extensive sitting can cause serious digestive issues.

Sensory issues and less control in the abdomen - My idea of autism is that people with the condition utilize fewer instincts to process input and for decisionmaking. Is it possible that this could affect the digestive system directly?

There appears to be a huge culture of alternative treatments related to digestive issues, and not just in relation to autism.

[Sophist]

Cytokines (hormones, neuromodulators, -transmitters, etc.) from the Central Nervous System definitely affect the Enteric Nervous System, which is a system of nerve tissue that controls digestion. So, for instance, chronic anxiety will usually affect the digestive tract.

[Ivar T]

Yet another possibility that I hadn't thought of, or more correctly - wasn't aware of.

[Sophist]

There may also be underlying links in the development of both the Central and Enteric Nervous Systems, so aside from causality (one affecting the other), there could also be the possibility of a joint underlying cause. That's just speculation though and would require much more research.

[Civet]

Cytokines (hormones, neuromodulators, -transmitters, etc.) from the Central Nervous System definitely affect the Enteric Nervous System, which is a system of nerve tissue that controls digestion. So, for instance, chronic anxiety will usually affect the digestive tract.

I don't know about the science of it by my esophagus seems to spasm rather often, when I'm having particularly bad problems it will be a constant small spasm that may travel from the center of my chest down to my belly area.

I also don't think I chew my food thoroughly all the time, Ivar. I also wonder if poor diet can be part of the contributing factor to digestive issues. I don't do this myself but it seems like some autistics will eat the same food for days to months on end.

[Sophist]

Poor diet will always cause digestive problems. It's one of the main reasons why such huge numbers of the population will have gastrointestinal problems at one time or another. GI disorders are unfortunately not rare.

The GI tract and its function can potentially be affected in two ways:

1) whatever you're putting into it is rough on the system (for instance, spicy things, soda, large quantities of meat, lack of fiber, food intolerances, etc.)

2) whatever nutrition you're not getting is hurting the proper functioning of your GI tract (undoubtedly along with many other organs and systems).

In order for one's brain to be functioning at its prime, proper nutrition is vital. Food is the first rung of pharmacology but all too often is ignored. If a person lives off white bread sandwiches, Doritos, and Mountain Dew, he is starving himself. You can be overweight and still starving.

[Ivar T]

I definitely have rather repetitive breakfasts and lunches, and also had, as I hear many other young autistic kids have, a strong pickiness regarding food when I was younger.

[Sophist]

My diet was pretty bad during childhood and up until early adulthood. I had definite food sensory issues (I still do, but I push through them because I've become obsessive-compulsive over health issues related to nutrition, so the anxiety and discomfort certain foods cause me tends to be less than the anxiety/discomfort of eating unhealthy).

[Ivar T]

I see that ChaoticIdealism, aka Callista, has recently posted a relevant piece on Nutrition & Autism.