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Birth month linked to coeliac disease

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Coeliac disease is more common among children born in the spring and summer months, according to a new study from the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.

The findings suggest that the higher incidence of this auto-immune disease may be related to a combination of seasonal and environmental factors.

Coeliac disease is a digestive disorder triggered by consuming the protein gluten, which is primarily found in bread and other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. It can damage the small intestine and make it difficult to absorb certain nutrients, causing problems ranging from abdominal pain to nerve damage.

Examining data on 382 US children diagnosed with coeliac disease at between 11 months and 19 years of age, researchers found that in the 15- to 19-year-old set, birth season appeared to make no difference.

Timing of introduction to gluten

But among 317 children younger than 15 years of age, 57% were born in the "light" season of March through August, compared with 43 percent who were born in the "dark" season of September through February.

Even though the exact cause of coeliac disease is unknown, potential triggers include the timing of infants' introduction to gluten, and viral infections contracted during the first year of life. The study's findings suggest the season of a child's birth is another potential risk factor for the disease.

The researchers pointed out that infants are generally introduced to solid foods containing gluten at around six months of age, which for spring and summer babies would coincide with cold and flu season.

Based on the findings, the study's lead researcher, Dr Pornthep Tanpowpong, said that the age at which gluten is first offered to some babies may need to be altered.

"If you're born in the spring or the summer, it might not be appropriate to introduce gluten at the same point as someone born in the fall or winter," said Tanpowpong. "Although we need to further develop and test our hypothesis, we think it provides a helpful clue for ongoing efforts to prevent coeliac disease."

Sunlight and coeliac disease

The study also noted that exposure to sunlight may also play a role in coeliac disease, since vitamin D deficiency has been associated with the disease.

The study is slated for presentation during Digestive Disease Week, an international gathering sponsored by the American Gastroenterological Association and other organisations.

Because the study was presented at a medical meeting and is small, its findings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal and confirmed in other research.


(Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.)

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