<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Celiac disease is known to be triggered, at least in part, by environmental
factors.  These factors can even affect one identical twin and not the other
and seem to have their greatest impact during infancy when gluten is first
introduced to the diet.  Gut flora makeup and vitamin D levels are 2 factors
which differ in infants and could affect the development of the immune
system in ways leading to celiac disease.  Recent research has shown that
gut Bifidobacterium levels are lower in both treated and untreated celiac
disease patients.  Bifidobacterium species have properties which are
beneficial to the immune system such as increasing IL-10 secretion and
decreasing intestinal permeability.  But other microbiota species may also
have important effects and benefits to the developing immune system.
Scientists are only beginning to scratch the surface both in cataloging
the microbiota species found in the gut and understanding how
environmental factors, such as antibiotics, affect their makeup and, in
turn, how the makeup of gut microbiota affects human health.  A new
article on Medscape.com discusses the current state of this research and
is excellent reading:

Gut Reaction: Environmental Effects on the Human Microbiota
Melissa Lee Phillips
Published on Medscape.com: 07/15/2009
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/705512_print

It may be years before research fully understands how gut microbiota and
vitamin D deficiency may be involved in triggering celiac disease.  Both
vitamin D and probiotic supplements (such as Bifidobacterium infantis) are
cheap, readily available, and generally safe.  There is much current
research showing how important vitamin D is for overall health.  Your
infant's health is a matter of immediate concern and cannot wait 5 or 10
years for research to confirm whether such supplements can help prevent
celiac disease.  It would seem prudent to make use of these supplements
now in both mother and infant during pregnancy, while breast-feeding,
and prior to introducing gluten to your baby.  Consult with your
physician about how much is the right dose.

* Please remember some posters may be WHEAT-FREE, but not GLUTEN-FREE *
Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC