Early Introduction of Gluten Can Trigger Constipation in Infants

Infant nutritional factors and functional constipation in childhood: the Generation R study.

Kiefte-de Jong JC, Escher JC, Arends LR, Jaddoe VW, Hofman A, Raat H, Moll HA.

Source

Department of the Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Food allergy and celiac disease may lead to childhood constipation. Early introduction of food allergens and gluten in the first year of life has been suggested to have a function in these food intolerances, but it is unclear whether this also holds true for development of childhood constipation. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the timing of introduction of food allergens and gluten early in life and functional constipation in childhood.

At the age of 24 months, 12% of the children had functional constipation. Children with functional constipation got introduced to gluten more often before or at the age of 6 months than children without functional constipation (37% and 27%, respectively). After adjustment for birth weight, gestational age, gender, ethnicity, maternal education, and family history of atopy and chronic intestinal disorders, functional constipation was significantly associated with early gluten introduction (odds ratio (OR): 1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-1.65). No association was found between timing of introduction of cow’s milk, hen’s egg, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts with functional constipation. A history of cow’s milk allergy in the first year of life was significantly associated with functional constipation in childhood (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.04-2.36).

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that early gluten introduction in the first year of life provide a trigger for functional constipation in a subset of children. In case of functional constipation, there also might be a role for cow’s milk allergy initiated in the first year of life.