A trial of oats in children with newly diagnosed celiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether consumption of oats is safe in children with newly diagnosed celiac disease who are starting a gluten-free diet.


METHODS
We conducted a self-controlled, open-label, 6-month trial of a commercial oat breakfast cereal product. Primary outcome variables were small bowel histomorphology and anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibody titer.


RESULTS
The 10 children who completed the study were 6.8 +/- 4.0 (mean +/- SD) years of age and 5 were male. Over 6.6 +/- 0.7 months, they consumed 24 grams of oat cereal per day, or 1.2 +/- 0.9 g/kg/d. Compared with start of study, at completion there was a significant decrease in biopsy score (P <.01), intra-epithelial lymphocyte count (P <.005), anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibody titer (P <.01), and number of symptoms (P <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that consumption of a commercially available oat cereal product for 6 months is safe for children with celiac disease beginning a gluten-free diet. Studies are needed to determine the long-term safety of including oat cereal in the gluten-free diet.
Hoffenberg
E J
EJ
Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Center for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Haas
J
J
Drescher
A
A
Barnhurst
R
R
Osberg
I
I
Bao
F
F
Eisenbarth
G
G
D018554:Avena; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000276:immunology
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D005983:Glutens; D011503:Transglutaminases