High-fiber diets before age 2 reduce risk of celiac disease
An observational study suggests that a high-fiber diet until age 2 appears to reduce the risk of celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder of the small intestine. A significant association was also found with children who were given high-fiber foods before age 1.
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden followed 6,500 children with a genetic risk of celiac disease for at least 13 months in Germany, Finland, the United States, and Skåne County in Sweden. They looked for antibodies specific to the disease in blood samples. The children were primarily screened for type 1 diabetes and also for celiac disease.
The results showed that different types of dietary fiber, found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, could be a factor in reducing the risk of the disease.
This is the first time that celiac disease has been studied based on dietary fiber in children, and the researchers say a clinical trial is needed to confirm the possible link./ Journal of Gastroenterology
