Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.  2016 Dec;19(4):229-235. 10.5223/pghn.2016.19.4.229.

Early Infant Feeding Practices May Influence the Onset of Symptomatic Celiac Disease

• Vajpayee S
• Sharma SD
• Gupta R
• Goyal A
• Sharma A

• KMID: 2364763
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2016.19.4.229

Abstract

PURPOSE
To study whether breastfeeding and breastfeeding status during gluten introduction influences the age at diagnosis of celiac disease (CD). In addition to study, whether the timing of gluten introduction influences the age at diagnosis of CD.
METHODS
It was a hospital based observational study. Total 198 patients diagnosed with CD as per modified European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2012) criteria, aged between 6 months to 6 years were included. Detail history taken with special emphasis on breastfeeding and age of gluten introduction. Standard statistical methods used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
Mean±standard deviation age of onset and diagnosis of CD in breastfed cases was 2.81±1.42 years and 3.68 ±1.55 years respectively as compared to 1.84±1.36 years and 2.70±1.65 years respectively in not breastfed cases (p<0.05). Those who had continued breastfeeding during gluten introduction and of longer duration had significantly delayed onset of disease. The age at onset of CD was under one year in 40.42% of the cases, who had started gluten before 6 months of age compared to only 12.58% of those who had started gluten later (p<0.001). The proposed statistical model showed that two variables, i.e., breast feeding status during gluten introduction and age at gluten introduction positively influencing the age at diagnosis of CD.
CONCLUSION
Delayed gluten introduction to infant's diet along with continuing breastfeeding, delays symptomatic CD. However, it is not clear from our study that these infant feeding practices provide permanent protection against the disease or merely delays the symptoms.

Keyword

Breast feeding; Celiac disease; Glutens; Infant feeding practices

MeSH Terms

Age of Onset
Breast Feeding
Celiac Disease*
Diagnosis
Diet
Gastroenterology
Glutens
Humans
Infant*
Models, Statistical
Observational Study
Glutens

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Normal P-P plot of regression standardized residual dependent variable: age at diagnosis in months. Error chart showing that observed values of dependant variables is very closely related supporting the goodness of the fit of the model.

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