It is sometimes thought that breastfeeding and feeding babies gluten early can reduce the risk of celiac disease. Recent research shows that it does not prevent celiac disease.
Where did the idea come from?
Based on previous research, it was thought that feeding small amounts of gluten at a young age can prevent celiac disease (gluten intolerance), especially when done during breastfeeding. The immune system would get used to gluten and not react to it later with a harmful immune response. However, extensive research had never been done.
New research debunks the idea
A recent study examined 950 children with an increased risk of celiac disease. Half of the children were given 100 milligrams of gluten daily in the diet at the age of 4 to 6 months. By age 3, 5.9 percent of these children had been diagnosed with celiac disease. The other half were given a placebo during that time, and were given gluten for the first time at 6 months of age. In this group, 4.5 percent had celiac disease. That's not a significant difference. Breastfeeding also appears to offer no protection against celiac disease.
Further investigation It is unclear exactly how celiac disease develops. More research is being done on this as a result of this research.
