A recent meta-analysis published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology suggests that exposure to infection or antibiotic in early life can increase the odds of developing coeliac disease (CD) later on.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 19 observational studies (15 on infection and six on antibiotic exposure) identified through a literature search on PubMed and Embase databases.
The pooled analysis of 15 studies showed that any infection in early life was associated with an increased risk of CD later in life (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.2-1.56; P<.001). In subgroup analyses, the type of infectious agent, timing of exposure and site of infection did not alter the association between infection and CD risk. Additionally, exposure to antibiotics had an association with new-onset CD (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.04-1.39; P<.001).
According to the authors, "dysbiosis of the gut microbiota induced by infection or associated antibiotic use may be a risk factor for CD." They call for future research through large prospective cohort studies to establish the causality within the observed association.