Gluten intake of toddler ‘linked to higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes’

The gluten intake of a toddler, rather than the amount consumed by the mother in pregnancy, is linked to a higher risk of the child developing type 1 diabetes, according to new research.

A study in Norway shows that a child’s intake of gluten at age 18 months is associated with a 46% increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes for each extra 10g of gluten consumed.

There was no association found between the mother’s intake of gluten during pregnancy and type 1 diabetes in her child, the authors said.

It could be that simply reducing gluten intake would be enough to reduce risk and this is easier to achieve than complete avoidance

Study authors

The research is being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Barcelona, Spain.

The findings differ from a previous study in Denmark, which suggested that a high maternal gluten intake during pregnancy increased the risk of type 1 diabetes in the child.

More –> CountyPress.co.Uk