A new study out of Sweden shows that Clostridium, Prevotella and Actinomyces bacteria in the small intestine may be related to celiac disease in some children. This research builds on previous Swedish data from 1985 to 1996 which showed that rod-shaped bacteria were present in the small intestines of children with celiac but not in those without the disease.

Rod-shaped bacteria are associated with the celiac “epidemic” that occurred in Sweden during the decade between 1985 and 1996. During this time period, rates of celiac disease in children under 2 increased 400 per cent. The researchers hypothesize that the increase of rod-shaped bacteria was linked to changes in infant feeding practice at that time: national feeding recommendations had parents delay the introduction of gluten to at least 6 months. This meant that, given the common practice of weaning by 6 months, babies were exposed to gluten for the first time without the protective benefits of breastmilk.

The recommendations have since been reversed - although this does mean that infants are being introduced to solids much younger than recommended by the World Health Organization.

It appears that rod-shaped bacteria may actually contribute to rates of celiac disease in one of two ways: by reducing the barrier function of the intestinal walls; or, by changing the gluten into immunogenic peptides which are able to enter the body and cause sensitization.

Source: Celiac.com