Breast-feeding may protect against celiac disease

Mothers who breast-feed their children may help to protect them from developing celiac disease, which is characterized by intolerance to a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

In a review of 15 studies, they found that the longer children are breast fed the less likely they are to suffer from the illness.

Although, in a report published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, researchers are not sure whether breast-feeding delays the onset of symptoms of the illness or provides permanent protection against it.

People who suffer from celiac disease have an intolerance to gluten and are unable to eat wheat, barley and rye products. It is a genetic disease in which the immune system damages the small intestine when gluten is eaten.

The review, which involved more than 4,000 children, showed that if babies were breast-fed when they were introduced to solid foods containing gluten, it cut their risk of suffering from the illness by 52 percent compared to other youngsters.

Courtesy of Reuters

Bonnie - 52% reduction for developing celiac is an astounding number. Chalk up another point for breastfeeding!