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Does anyone know if gluten comes through in breast milk?
My 3-month-old granddaughter Abigail has Down Syndrome, and people with DS have a higher incidence of celiac disease and gluten intolerance.
Abigail has only had breast milk (in a bottle, as her suck is too weak to sustain nursing), and my DIL was wondering if gluten comes through the milk. Abigail doesn't feed well, even with the bottle, and spits up more that her siblings did. DIL is willing to give up gluten if it would help Abigail, but she wants to be pretty sure it would make a difference, because she thinks it would be very hard to go gluten-free.
Any ideas? Tex? Polly? Camryn's mom?
Thanks,
Martha
gluten and breast milk
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gluten and breast milk
Martha
This is probably not the most reliable source, but there are several research studies that demonstrate gliadin in breastmilk after gluten ingestion. This one shows it was still there a couple days later!
http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten ... east-milk/
The bigger question this raises is about cow's milk. I can't beleive it hadn't occured to me, that if cows are fed gluten-containing grains, their milk will have gluten proteins in it too!! Does it explain why so many people with gluten intolerance can't have dairy either??
Interestingly, my mom could not tolerate milk in the US, but she does fine with milk produced in Guatemala, presumably from pasture-fed cows.
http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten ... east-milk/
The bigger question this raises is about cow's milk. I can't beleive it hadn't occured to me, that if cows are fed gluten-containing grains, their milk will have gluten proteins in it too!! Does it explain why so many people with gluten intolerance can't have dairy either??
Interestingly, my mom could not tolerate milk in the US, but she does fine with milk produced in Guatemala, presumably from pasture-fed cows.
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draperygoddess
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Martha,
Here's a link for you: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9867098
According to this study, a mother who is eating gluten herself will certainly pass it on to her nursing baby. I wouldn't bet that the spitting up is necessarily due to gluten, though--my older daughter spit up much more on a bottle than when nursed, even when she was taking breastmilk through a bottle. I think it's just easier for them to swallow more air with a bottle.
I admire your DIL for her determination to do what's best for her child, no matter how inconvenient (what she's having to do now is no picnic!). Hope she will be able to make a decision she's comfortable with--this is a toughie!
Here's a link for you: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9867098
According to this study, a mother who is eating gluten herself will certainly pass it on to her nursing baby. I wouldn't bet that the spitting up is necessarily due to gluten, though--my older daughter spit up much more on a bottle than when nursed, even when she was taking breastmilk through a bottle. I think it's just easier for them to swallow more air with a bottle.
I admire your DIL for her determination to do what's best for her child, no matter how inconvenient (what she's having to do now is no picnic!). Hope she will be able to make a decision she's comfortable with--this is a toughie!
Cynthia
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
My other thought here is that the predisposition to gluten intolerance in Down's may relate to weak connective tissue and the resulting leaky gut that it creates. I believe babies are usually protected from leaky gut issues while they are breastfeeding, because breastmilk has so many gut coating/protective factors in it. I suspect the problems happen when they wean to cow's milk or formula (and grains) so breast is still best, even if it contains gliadin.
I also think cow's milk in mom's diet is more likely to cause digestive problems in baby, especially if baby was exposed to formula early on. Bloody streaks in the diaper are a sure sign of milk protein allergy/intolerance.
But reflux is more common in DS babies, so it may not be diet-related at all.
Many authorities recommend introducing allergenic foods (and vaccines) while a baby is still breastfeeding because the breastmilk helps them develop a normal immune response to new stimuli and antigens.
I advised my sister to hold off on giving her baby gluten containing foods until at least a year, but to introduce them while she is still breastfeeding.
I also think cow's milk in mom's diet is more likely to cause digestive problems in baby, especially if baby was exposed to formula early on. Bloody streaks in the diaper are a sure sign of milk protein allergy/intolerance.
But reflux is more common in DS babies, so it may not be diet-related at all.
Many authorities recommend introducing allergenic foods (and vaccines) while a baby is still breastfeeding because the breastmilk helps them develop a normal immune response to new stimuli and antigens.
I advised my sister to hold off on giving her baby gluten containing foods until at least a year, but to introduce them while she is still breastfeeding.
Oh, my last thought (I was a breastfeeding scholar after breastfeeding my 2 kids a combined 4 years 
):
I think the food proteins passed through breastmilk may actually protect the baby from developing severe allergies to those proteins. Getting them in small, broken-down components in small doses along with the immune factors in breastmilk can help a baby form a natural tolerance to the proteins. I can't point to conclusive evidence on this, but it makes sense to me.
It is well-documented that babies who receive formula in the hospital at birth, even if they go on to breastfeed exclusively, are more likely to develop milk protein allergies.
):I think the food proteins passed through breastmilk may actually protect the baby from developing severe allergies to those proteins. Getting them in small, broken-down components in small doses along with the immune factors in breastmilk can help a baby form a natural tolerance to the proteins. I can't point to conclusive evidence on this, but it makes sense to me.
It is well-documented that babies who receive formula in the hospital at birth, even if they go on to breastfeed exclusively, are more likely to develop milk protein allergies.
Martha,
The references cited by Zizzle and Cynthia are valid - even mycotoxins, (if present in the mother's diet), are passed along in milk. That doesn't guarantee that the baby will react to gluten peptides in milk, but if she happens to be gluten-sensitive, then she would almost surely react.
Zizzle's last post mentioned proteins in milk as helping to protect against allergies, (by presenting the proteins in small, broken-down components). That may be true for conventional allergies, but I'm not convinced that it would be beneficial in the case of gluten, because for one thing, the gliadin and glutenin peptides will be presented whole, in the form to which gluten-sensitive individuals normally react. Also, Dr. Fasano's research shows that everyone, (not just celiacs), produces zonulin in the presence of gliadins and glutenins, which tends to stimulate the tight junctions in the gut to become leaky. Obviously, the leakage is on a relatively low level, initially, but if gluten-sensitive genes are present, then the issue will slowly progress. Normally, milk contains antibodies that help the baby's immune system to develop an immunity to various allergens, but that doesn't seem to work in the case of gluten-sensitivity, because it's not a classic allergy - it's a digestive system issue, and there is no genetic precedent in our developmental/evolutionary history, available to counteract it.
The safest procedure would be for the mother to adopt the GF diet, IMO, but I'm certainly no expert on the immunological aspect of infant diets.
Tex
The references cited by Zizzle and Cynthia are valid - even mycotoxins, (if present in the mother's diet), are passed along in milk. That doesn't guarantee that the baby will react to gluten peptides in milk, but if she happens to be gluten-sensitive, then she would almost surely react.
Zizzle's last post mentioned proteins in milk as helping to protect against allergies, (by presenting the proteins in small, broken-down components). That may be true for conventional allergies, but I'm not convinced that it would be beneficial in the case of gluten, because for one thing, the gliadin and glutenin peptides will be presented whole, in the form to which gluten-sensitive individuals normally react. Also, Dr. Fasano's research shows that everyone, (not just celiacs), produces zonulin in the presence of gliadins and glutenins, which tends to stimulate the tight junctions in the gut to become leaky. Obviously, the leakage is on a relatively low level, initially, but if gluten-sensitive genes are present, then the issue will slowly progress. Normally, milk contains antibodies that help the baby's immune system to develop an immunity to various allergens, but that doesn't seem to work in the case of gluten-sensitivity, because it's not a classic allergy - it's a digestive system issue, and there is no genetic precedent in our developmental/evolutionary history, available to counteract it.
The safest procedure would be for the mother to adopt the GF diet, IMO, but I'm certainly no expert on the immunological aspect of infant diets.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Martha,
It does look as though gluten has been found in breast milk (meaning - I Googled and read a little, and it seemed like reputable stuff, not someone as crazy anti-gluten as I am).
I would guess that GF diet is a lot easier than raising a child (with or without DS, colic, or anything else!) but am sympathetic that this might look like a big sacrifice. They could do the cheek-swab Enterolab test, to confirm celiac or GS genes, if that would give her more of a sense of mission, and less of a feeling it's a crap-shoot. (She might do a swab for herself... this could be a better idea than she realizes, for her own health...) It's costly, but then, so is changing the way you eat...
I know she'd do anything for Abigail, and hope that if she does this, it makes a noticeable difference, so she feels rewarded and relieved. It is, of course, a big deal to transform all routines for shopping, cooking, and socializing around food.
It does look as though gluten has been found in breast milk (meaning - I Googled and read a little, and it seemed like reputable stuff, not someone as crazy anti-gluten as I am).
I would guess that GF diet is a lot easier than raising a child (with or without DS, colic, or anything else!) but am sympathetic that this might look like a big sacrifice. They could do the cheek-swab Enterolab test, to confirm celiac or GS genes, if that would give her more of a sense of mission, and less of a feeling it's a crap-shoot. (She might do a swab for herself... this could be a better idea than she realizes, for her own health...) It's costly, but then, so is changing the way you eat...
I know she'd do anything for Abigail, and hope that if she does this, it makes a noticeable difference, so she feels rewarded and relieved. It is, of course, a big deal to transform all routines for shopping, cooking, and socializing around food.
Martha,
It does look as though gluten has been found in breast milk (meaning - I Googled and read a little, and it seemed like reputable stuff, not someone as crazy anti-gluten as I am).
I would guess that GF diet is a lot easier than raising a child (with or without DS, colic, or anything else!) but am sympathetic that this might look like a big sacrifice. They could do the cheek-swab Enterolab test, to confirm celiac or GS genes, if that would give her more of a sense of mission, and less of a feeling it's a crap-shoot. (She might do a swab for herself... this could be a better idea than she realizes, for her own health...) It's costly, but then, so is changing the way you eat...
I know she'd do anything for Abigail, and hope that if she does this, it makes a noticeable difference, so she feels rewarded and relieved. It is, of course, a big deal to transform all routines for shopping, cooking, and socializing around food.
It does look as though gluten has been found in breast milk (meaning - I Googled and read a little, and it seemed like reputable stuff, not someone as crazy anti-gluten as I am).
I would guess that GF diet is a lot easier than raising a child (with or without DS, colic, or anything else!) but am sympathetic that this might look like a big sacrifice. They could do the cheek-swab Enterolab test, to confirm celiac or GS genes, if that would give her more of a sense of mission, and less of a feeling it's a crap-shoot. (She might do a swab for herself... this could be a better idea than she realizes, for her own health...) It's costly, but then, so is changing the way you eat...
I know she'd do anything for Abigail, and hope that if she does this, it makes a noticeable difference, so she feels rewarded and relieved. It is, of course, a big deal to transform all routines for shopping, cooking, and socializing around food.
Martha,
I feel for your DIL - big decision to weigh - and how terrible would she feel if she inadvertently 'slipped' and saw the effects on Abigail.
I would still guess that GF diet is a lot easier than raising a child (with or without DS, colic, or anything else!) but am sympathetic that this must look huge from where she's sitting. They could do the cheek-swab Enterolab test, to confirm celiac or GS genes, if that would give her more of a sense of mission, and less of a feeling it's a crap-shoot. (She might do a swab for herself... GF might be a better idea than she realizes, for her own health... as I say to my friends who say they can eat anything, "As far as you know... at least up till now.") Testing's costly, but then, so is eating well. Might as well know what "eating well" means.
I know she'd do anything for Abigail, and hope that if she does this, it makes a noticeable difference, so she feels rewarded and relieved. It is, of course, a big deal to transform all routines for shopping, cooking, and socializing around food.
Please let us know how this turns out. Sending loving thoughts to Abigail and all the generations of her family,
Sara
I feel for your DIL - big decision to weigh - and how terrible would she feel if she inadvertently 'slipped' and saw the effects on Abigail.
I would still guess that GF diet is a lot easier than raising a child (with or without DS, colic, or anything else!) but am sympathetic that this must look huge from where she's sitting. They could do the cheek-swab Enterolab test, to confirm celiac or GS genes, if that would give her more of a sense of mission, and less of a feeling it's a crap-shoot. (She might do a swab for herself... GF might be a better idea than she realizes, for her own health... as I say to my friends who say they can eat anything, "As far as you know... at least up till now.") Testing's costly, but then, so is eating well. Might as well know what "eating well" means.
I know she'd do anything for Abigail, and hope that if she does this, it makes a noticeable difference, so she feels rewarded and relieved. It is, of course, a big deal to transform all routines for shopping, cooking, and socializing around food.
Please let us know how this turns out. Sending loving thoughts to Abigail and all the generations of her family,
Sara
I was thinking of you and of Abigail today. I meant to ask you how she is doing, and here is a post. Your daughter has my admiration. Is she getting help?
I am sure all the studies are right. I know that babies react to whatever the breastfeeding mother eats or drinks. My daughters middle child cried solidly for the first 3 months after he was born. She felt that nothing she cut out helped, except when she had a glass of wine. The feed during or right after it he quieted.
The next one cried for a couple of weeks so she cut down her foods nearly to my current level (not quite) for the first 3 months and he was FINE.
I am sure all the studies are right. I know that babies react to whatever the breastfeeding mother eats or drinks. My daughters middle child cried solidly for the first 3 months after he was born. She felt that nothing she cut out helped, except when she had a glass of wine. The feed during or right after it he quieted.
The next one cried for a couple of weeks so she cut down her foods nearly to my current level (not quite) for the first 3 months and he was FINE.
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draperygoddess
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Lesley, I wish I had been as smart as your daughter! My second daughter had issues from the get-go (screamed all the way home from the hospital). She was absolutely inconsolable. She had explosive BMs, and you could hear her little tummy gurgling all the time. She was exclusively breastfed, and I was careful about spicy and greasy foods and medications. It never occurred to me that she might be intolerant of something I was eating. Incidentally, this is the child I believe has most likely inherited my GI issues and food intolerances. I wonder if it would have made a difference for her if I had changed my diet.
Cynthia
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
"Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!" -Bob the Builder
Probably not in the long run, but initially maybe.
I didn't tell the whole story. My daughter believes in all sorts of magic. She went to a woman who held a crystal over the baby's stomach and then told her what he would react to. Bottom line? Just about everything off, though not gluten. I don't remember if dairy was on the list.
It couldn't do any harm, right? It worked.
Maybe one day she will listen to what I tell her, but she hasn't in 44 years, so I am not holding my breath.
I didn't tell the whole story. My daughter believes in all sorts of magic. She went to a woman who held a crystal over the baby's stomach and then told her what he would react to. Bottom line? Just about everything off, though not gluten. I don't remember if dairy was on the list.
It couldn't do any harm, right? It worked.
Maybe one day she will listen to what I tell her, but she hasn't in 44 years, so I am not holding my breath.
Martha,
One more thing. I fed my first baby with a bottle and pumping exclusively after 3 months of difficulty at the breast. His poops were usually green, explosive and watery compared to my daughter's normal yellow, seedy stools. I later learned that he was probably getting too much foremilk (the hydrating early milk) and not enough hindmilk (the fattening good stuff). I read too much foremilk can cause mild tummy trouble too. Both my kids spit up alot--they were "happy spitters," so I never suspected food intolerances. I only pumped 4x day for 30 mins each (I had massive supply and storage in my freakish 38 Fs!). Anyway, it's important to be mindful of getting the rich milk that comes at the end of a pumping session, not just the easy flowing early milk. You can guage how much fat you're getting by checking the creamy top that forms when the milk is in the fridge.
One more thing. I fed my first baby with a bottle and pumping exclusively after 3 months of difficulty at the breast. His poops were usually green, explosive and watery compared to my daughter's normal yellow, seedy stools. I later learned that he was probably getting too much foremilk (the hydrating early milk) and not enough hindmilk (the fattening good stuff). I read too much foremilk can cause mild tummy trouble too. Both my kids spit up alot--they were "happy spitters," so I never suspected food intolerances. I only pumped 4x day for 30 mins each (I had massive supply and storage in my freakish 38 Fs!). Anyway, it's important to be mindful of getting the rich milk that comes at the end of a pumping session, not just the easy flowing early milk. You can guage how much fat you're getting by checking the creamy top that forms when the milk is in the fridge.
Thanks for all the information, links, and suggestions. It's good to know that yes, gluten does come through the milk. There probably isn't any point in DIL going on a gluten-free diet unless they either do testing to find out if Abigail has gluten-intolerance genes, or unless she exhibits some definite signs of gluten intolerance. She doesn't cry or fuss at all. Not even when she ought to be hungry. I think her poop is pretty normal. I don't change her diapers, but what I see that has leaked out on her clothes is yellow.
Cynthia, I agree that the spitting up is probably due more to taking in air, because the times when Abigail does nurse, she doesn't spit up. DIL also notices a difference according to which nipple and which bottle she uses. They are careful now to use a nipple with a small hole, and to hold the baby so that her mouth is below her ears, and she has to suck to get the milk, not just have it flow easily into her mouth.
Zizzle, I hadn't heard about foremilk and hindmilk. I'll mention that to DIL as well. She has a good milk supply, but if she doesn't pump, and just lets Abigail nurse, her supply starts to dry up. Or even if she lets the baby nurse first, and pumps afterwards, the milk starts to decrease. Who knew feeding was so complicated? I nursed my babies for over two years each and never even realized that some babies have a hard time with it.
Lesley, my son and his wife have a lady who comes in to clean the house once every other week. I watch the 2-year-old two days a week, and do a lot of their laundry. I have started taking some meals to them, too, and run the vacuum once in a while when I take the 2-yr-old home. Their church and homeschool group brought meals for a couple of weeks after Abigail was born, but they aren't doing it any more. I think DIL's mom brings them meals too. So they are getting help, but probably not as much as they need.
Sara and Tex, I agree that going GF would be the best both for baby and mommy. But, as is true of many of us, I see gluten problems lurking everywhere, and my family is not as eager to give up gluten as they ought to be!
On a happy, "way to go, Abigail" note, Abigail turned over all by herself! Her big sister got a video of her turning over. We are all cheering!
Love,
Martha
Cynthia, I agree that the spitting up is probably due more to taking in air, because the times when Abigail does nurse, she doesn't spit up. DIL also notices a difference according to which nipple and which bottle she uses. They are careful now to use a nipple with a small hole, and to hold the baby so that her mouth is below her ears, and she has to suck to get the milk, not just have it flow easily into her mouth.
Zizzle, I hadn't heard about foremilk and hindmilk. I'll mention that to DIL as well. She has a good milk supply, but if she doesn't pump, and just lets Abigail nurse, her supply starts to dry up. Or even if she lets the baby nurse first, and pumps afterwards, the milk starts to decrease. Who knew feeding was so complicated? I nursed my babies for over two years each and never even realized that some babies have a hard time with it.
Lesley, my son and his wife have a lady who comes in to clean the house once every other week. I watch the 2-year-old two days a week, and do a lot of their laundry. I have started taking some meals to them, too, and run the vacuum once in a while when I take the 2-yr-old home. Their church and homeschool group brought meals for a couple of weeks after Abigail was born, but they aren't doing it any more. I think DIL's mom brings them meals too. So they are getting help, but probably not as much as they need.
Sara and Tex, I agree that going GF would be the best both for baby and mommy. But, as is true of many of us, I see gluten problems lurking everywhere, and my family is not as eager to give up gluten as they ought to be!
On a happy, "way to go, Abigail" note, Abigail turned over all by herself! Her big sister got a video of her turning over. We are all cheering!
Love,
Martha
Martha
Well, what do you know!! TERRIFIC! That's a heck of a milestone.Abigail turned over all by herself
I am glad they have all the loving physical help. That's super important. But I also want to know if they get/need help from a therapist, though if she is passing developmental milestones without it they might not need it right now.