New research on omega-3 and celiac disease: Unexpected findings
Researchers are investigating whether a mother’s diet during pregnancy or a child’s diet in the first year of life may influence the risk of developing celiac disease.
A large study following 85,000 children has revealed unexpected results regarding supplements and fish consumption.(Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB)
Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to a lower risk of type 1 diabetes.
But could the same be true for celiac disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system reacts to gluten in wheat, barley, and rye. It can damage the intestines and make it difficult to absorb nutrients.
The condition is closely linked to type 1 diabetes. Previous studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may have a protective effect against this type of diabetes. This has been found in studies of both mothers’ and children’s diets early in life.
"Different fatty acids affect the body in different ways. Some may increase inflammation, while omega-3 acts more like a ‘brake’ on inflammatory processes," says Elin Hård af Segerstad.
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She is a celiac researcher at Oslo University Hospital.
Elin Hård af Segerstad researches celiac disease in Norway and treats children with the disease in Sweden.(Photo: Tove Gilvad / Lund University)
Unexpected findings
The researchers used data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), one of the world’s largest health studies. They looked at how much omega-3 the mother consumed during pregnancy and how much the child consumed during their first year of life.
The findings were not what they had expected.
"We found no association between omega-3 intake and the risk of celiac disease," says Segerstad.
Genes play a role
The researchers also analysed the children’s genes, including genes involved in how the body processes fatty acids.
Even if two people eat the same thing, their bodies may process fat differently.
This led to another unexpected finding: Children with certain genetic variants linked to higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids had a higher risk of developing celiac disease.
"We still don't know why this happens," says Segerstad.
Similar findings have also been reported in an American study of adults with celiac disease.
Fish point in a different direction
When the researchers looked at the mother’s diet during pregnancy, they found a possible connection: Higher fish consumption was associated with a slightly lower risk of celiac disease in children.
Surprisingly, this applied to both fatty and lean fish.
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At the same time, the researchers noticed the opposite pattern among mothers who used omega-3 supplements such as cod liver oil or fish oil capsules.
"This could indicate that omega-3 alone may not explain the potential protective effect of eating fish," Segerstad believes. "Fish contains many other nutrients – such as selenium, iodine, vitamin D, and various proteins. It's entirely possible that one or more of these play a role."
Also relevant for type 1 diabetes
Lars Krogvold is a senior physician at Oslo University Hospital's paediatric department and studies type 1 diabetes. He believes the study is also relevant for this condition.
"Research on type 1 diabetes has produced mixed results. Some studies suggest omega-3 may have a small protective effect, while others show no clear relationship," he says.
Children with type 1 diabetes are also more likely to develop celiac disease. Around 10 per cent receive both diagnoses.
Lars Krogvold researches type 1 diabetes, which serves as a model for celiac disease researchers because the diseases are closely related.(Photo: Oslo University Hospital)
Important to publish negative findings
Krogvold notes that the study is large and thorough.
"The results do not suggest that omega-3 intake during pregnancy or early childhood protects against celiac disease. If anything, the findings point slightly in the opposite direction," he says.
It is important that these kinds of ‘negative’ findings are also published because they provide valuable knowledge, according to Krogvold.
He believes that parents should not feel responsible if their child develops celiac disease. A lack of fish or cod liver oil is unlikely to be the reason.
A methodological explanation?
The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study shows that women who use dietary supplements during pregnancy often differ from others in terms of lifestyle and health awareness.
Segerstad believes this could influence which children ultimately receive a diagnosis.
"One possible explanation for the higher rates of celiac disease among these children is not the omega-3 itself, but the fact that these parents may be more likely to seek medical care," she says.
"Celiac disease is often underdiagnosed. Greater contact with healthcare services may increase the likelihood that a child is actually diagnosed," she adds.
