Is Celiac Disease Autoimmunity Associated with Child Behavior?

Undiagnosed celiac disease was associated with very slight elevations in anxiety and oppositional defiant symptom scores.

Celiac disease autoimmunity (CDA) occurs in about 1% of children, but most cases are undiagnosed. Children with diagnosed CDA have elevated rates of psychiatric symptoms, possibly due to the stress of dietary restrictions or another physiological mechanism involving the brain-gut axis or micronutrient deficiencies. Gluten elimination helps psychiatric symptoms in children with CDA, but it is unclear whether undiagnosed or subclinical CDA contributes to behavioral issues.

To examine this issue, researchers used data from 3715 children in a large, population-based study in the Netherlands. At age 6 years, children's blood was tested for CDA (positive tissue transglutaminase autoantibody titers) and parents completed behavioral scales. Only chi…

Reviewing Author

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Is Celiac Disease Autoimmunity Associated with Child Behavior?

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Reviewing Author