Recurrent Miscarriage and the Gluten-Free Diet
This study examined the relationship between recurrent miscarriage and the gluten-free diet. Could the presence of gluten in the diet contribute to the risk of miscarriage?
The results suggest that women having recurrent miscarriages or intrauterine growth retardation could have sub clinical coeliac disease, which can be detected by serological screening tests.
44 patients of average age 33 years with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion (recurrent, unexplained miscarriage), and 39 patients average age 34 years with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (poor growth – birth weight lower than 10% percentile) and 50 healthy controls, matched for age and from the same geographical area were assessed.
Results:
Concentrations of anti-endomysial and anti-transglutaminase antibodies (two common markers in gluten-intolerant patients) were measured in all patients. The patients with recurrent miscarriage and those with intrauterine growth restriction had a significantly higher frequency of markers than the controls.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that women having recurrent miscarriages or intrauterine growth retardation could have sub clinical coeliac disease, which can be detected by blood screening tests.
Read the full article on recurrent miscarriage and the gluten-free diet.
The Lancet, Volume 356, Issue 9227, Pages 399 – 400, 29 July 2000.
Where to from here?
Read more on nutrition and herbal medicine