Celiac disease, also known as "gluten
intolerance", is a genetic disorder that affects about
1 in 40.
Symptoms of celiac disease can range from the classic features,
such as diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition, to latent
symptoms such as isolated nutrient deficiencies, but no
gastrointestinal symptoms.
The authors performed a case control study of 250 children
and found the risk of developing celiac disease decreased
significantly by nearly 2/3 for children breast-fed for
more than 2 months.
The age at first gluten introduction had no significant
influence on the incidence of celiac disease. The authors
concluded that a significant protective effect on the development
of celiac disease is offered by breast-feeding.
Annals
of Nutrition & Metabolism 45:4:2001, 135-142