Early gluten exposure thought to increase coeliac disease risk

Monday, 28 March 2011 10:32

A scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is that the introduction of gluten into an infant’s diet by six months of age while still breastfeeding, might reduce the infant’s risk of developing coeliac disease and diabetes. In response to this, the UK Food Standards Agency’s Committee on Toxicity and Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition examined the available evidence and found that all studies analysed by the EFSA were observational, and that there is a lack of published intervention studies.

The review found evidence that there may be an increased risk of coeliac disease if gluten-containing foods are introduced too early, specifically, before three months (13 weeks) of age. There might also be an increased chance of infants developing coeliac disease if they are not being breastfed when gluten is introduced into the diet. Beyond the age of three months, there is no strong evidence to support specific recommendations about when gluten should be introduced into infants’ diets.

As a result of the findings, the Food Standards Agency has reiterated its current guidance to feed babies only breast milk or formula up to around six months of age.