Breast-Feeding May Protect Against Celiac Disease

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The following study is an example of the lifegiving benefits of breastfeeding that formula companies like Nestlé diminish

Ivarsson, A. et al. Am J Clin Nutr

75:914-21, 2002

A groundbreaking study from the University of Sweden demonstrated that when infants are breastfed during the time of introduction of gluten-containing foods, their risk for developing celiac disease was lower than for those who discontinued breastfeeding during this time.

Celiac disease may be triggered by an autoimmune response when an infant is exposed to a food containing gluten proteins. In order to investigate the impact of breastfeeding on this response, Ivarsson and her team of researchers looked at the breastfeeding patterns of 627 children with celiac disease and 1254 healthy children to determine the effect of breastfeeding during the time of introduction of gluten-containing foods on the outcome of the development of celiac disease.

An astounding 40 per cent risk reduction was reported for the development of celiac disease in children at two years of age or younger who were breastfed when dietary gluten was introduced. And the effect was even more pronounced in infants who continued to be breastfed after dietary gluten was introduced, the authors noted.

They also observed that the risk for celiac disease appeared to be greater when gluten-based foods were introduced into an infant’s diet in large amounts. (Editor’s note – La Leche League International’s recommendations of exclusive breastfeeding for six months, then starting solid foods with fruits and vegetables–rather than infant cereals–and continuing breastfeeding to the age of two and beyond, is sound advice.)

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