Breastfeeding reduces risk of gluten intolerance

Gluten intolerance, or celiac disease, has massive implications on the diet and lifestyle of those who suffer from it. They must constantly be vigilant for traces of wheat in their diet and the long-term implications of the disease can often be alarming. A new study suggests that there is a simple way to cut down on a newborn's chances of developing this disorder -- breastfeeding. (For more breastfeeding benefits and advice, read our Guide to breastfeeding.)

Although gluten intolerance is regarded as a genetic disorder, a recent meta-study by researchers at Manchester University showed that there appear to be clear links between breastfeeding and reduced incident rates of the disease.

Celiac disease affects as many as 1 in 130 Canadians. The classic symptoms range from diarrhea to weight loss to malnutrition, but the disease is by no means easy to diagnose. Screening involves blood testing for antigliadin (AGA) and endomysium antibodies (EmA), or performing a biopsy on the affected part of the intestines.

Typically, the disease damages the villi in the intestines, and undiagnosed can lead to massively increased chances of gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, it is extremely important that diagnosis happens early in the patient's life and that they adjust their diet accordingly.

Now researchers appear to have found an even better way of preventing the disorder. By examining the results of six large studies involving 900 children with celiac disease and 3,500 healthy children, The Archives of Disease in Childhood Study noted that breastfeeding significantly reduced the chances of celiac disease in a child and the longer breastfeeding took place, the less prevalent the risk. The incidence rate of the disease was cut as much as 52 per cent in those infants who were breastfed, as opposed to those who were not.