Age at Gluten Introduction and Risk for Celiac Disease

The incidence of celiac disease (CD) is increasing in Western countries. In an ongoing prospective cohort study of children living in Finland, Germany, Sweden, and the U.S., researchers examined whether a twofold higher rate of CD observed in Sweden (vs. the U.S.) was attributable to variable age at gluten introduction.

Annual screening for CD autoimmunity was performed in 6436 children beginning at age 24 months. Children who tested positive for tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (tTGA) in two consecutive samples were referred to a pediatric gastroenterologist to confirm CD diagnosis. Parents kept diaries to record the timing of all new foods introduced into infants' diets. Results were as follows:

• Of 6436 children, 773 (12%) developed t…