健康英语新闻:U.S. research links kids' birth month with celiac disease

LOS ANGELES, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Kids born in the spring and summer months might be more likely to develop celiac disease, U.S. researchers have found.

Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children drew the conclusion after examining data on 382 children diagnosed with celiac disease at between 11 months and 19 years of age, HealthDay News reported on Sunday.

The study found that in the 15- to 19-year-old set, birth season appeared to make no difference, but among 317 children younger than 15 years of age, 57 percent were born in the "light" season of March through August, compared with 43 percent who were born in the "dark" season of September through February.

The findings suggest that the higher incidence of this autoimmune disease may be related to a combination of seasonal and environmental factors, the report said.

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder triggered by consuming the protein gluten, which is primarily found in bread and other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. It can damage the small intestine and make it difficult to absorb certain nutrients, causing problems ranging from abdominal pain to nerve damage.

Even though the exact cause of celiac disease is unknown, potential triggers include the timing of infants' introduction to gluten, and viral infections contracted during the first year of life.

The study's findings suggest the season of a child's birth is another potential risk factor for the disease.

The researchers pointed out that infants are generally introduced to solid foods containing gluten at around six months of age, which for spring and summer babies would coincide with cold and flu season.

Based on the findings, the age at which gluten is first offered to some babies may need to be altered, said the study's lead researcher, Dr. Pornthep Tanpowpong. "If you're born in the spring or the summer, it might not be appropriate to introduce gluten at the same point as someone born in the fall or winter," said Tanpowpong. "Although we need to further develop and test our hypothesis, we think it provides a helpful clue for ongoing efforts to prevent celiac disease."

The study also noted that exposure to sunlight may also play a role in celiac disease, since vitamin D deficiency has been associated with the disease.

The study was presented Sunday in Chicago during Digestive Disease Week, an international gathering sponsored by the American Gastroenterological Association and other organizations, HealthDay News said.

Because the study was presented at a medical meeting and is small, its findings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal and confirmed in other research, the report said.