Milk powder intake and celiac disease in Swedish children
What it found
In genetically susceptible Swedish children, eating milk powder in the first two years of life was not linked to later celiac disease.
The study followed children from birth and compared those who developed celiac disease with those who did not.
What they found
Studies in people
Milk powder and celiac disease
Intake of milk powder before the appearance of celiac disease antibodies was not linked to celiac disease. This was true for the last intake, total intake, and intake at any specific age.
Intake at 9 months
In an unadjusted analysis, there was a small increased risk at 9 months of age, but when family history of celiac disease and gluten intake were considered, the link was no longer significant.
Gluten and family history
Having a first-degree relative with celiac disease and higher gluten intake were both linked to celiac disease.
Milk powder intake pattern
Milk powder intake increased in both groups by 12 months of age, with a peak at 9 months, then decreased by 24 months.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, intake of milk powder in early childhood is not associated with celiac disease in genetically susceptible children.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that intake of milk powder in early childhood is not associated with celiac disease in genetically susceptible children.
- They state that consumption of milk powder is not associated with celiac disease for Swedish children.
How it was done
Milk powder and gluten are common in Swedish infants' diets. Large gluten intakes early in life raise celiac disease risk in at-risk children, but no study had looked at whether milk powder intake by age 2 is linked to celiac disease.
Researchers studied 207 children with celiac disease and 621 without, all from a Swedish birth cohort of children with certain genes. They matched controls by sex, birth year, and genes, and used 3-day food records at 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months to estimate milk powder intake.
What it can’t tell you
- This study followed children over time, so it can show a link but not prove that milk powder causes or prevents celiac disease.
- The study only looked at milk powder intake in the first 2 years of life, while most celiac cases were diagnosed years later.
- Some food record data were missing, and milk powder content could not be estimated for all foods, which may affect the results.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by NIDDK NIH HHS; NCATS NIH HHS; NLM NIH HHS (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Lund University, Sweden; University of South Florida, USA; University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Finland
The paper
- Title
- Daily Intake of Milk Powder and Risk of Celiac Disease in Early Childhood: A Nested Case-Control Study
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Hård Af Segerstad EM, Lee HS, Andrén Aronsson C, et al (2018). Daily Intake of Milk Powder and Risk of Celiac Disease in Early Childhood: A Nested Case-Control Study. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu10050550Free full textPubMed 29710789DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error