Dig Dis Sci. 2020 Oct;65(10):2970-2978.doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06232-3. Epub 2020 Apr 1.

Benjamin A Wagner ¹, Noelia Zork ², John W Blackett ³, Peter H R Green ³, 

Author information

• ¹Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA.
• ²Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA.
• ³Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Celiac Disease Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA.
• ⁴Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Celiac Disease Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA. bl114@cumc.columbia.edu.
• ⁵Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA. bl114@cumc.columbia.edu.

Abstract

Background: Gluten avoidance among patients without celiac disease has become increasingly popular, especially among young and female demographics; however, no research has explored gluten avoidance during pregnancy, when nutrition is particularly important.

Aims: To determine whether avoiding gluten in pregnancy is associated with any medical, obstetric, or neonatal characteristics.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we identified women with singleton pregnancies who avoid gluten based on antenatal intake questionnaire responses and inpatient dietary orders, excluding those with celiac disease. Certain demographic, medical, obstetric, and neonatal characteristics were compared to matched controls who do not avoid gluten.

Results: From July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2019, 138 pregnant women who avoid gluten were admitted for delivery of singleton gestations. Compared to controls, gluten-avoidant women had fewer prior pregnancies (p = 0.005), deliveries (p < 0.0005), and living children (p < 0.0005), higher rates of hypothyroidism (OR = 3.22; p = 0.001) and irritable bowel syndrome (OR = 6.00; p = 0.019), higher second trimester hemoglobin (p = 0.018), and lower body mass index at delivery (p = 0.045). Groups did not differ in any obstetric or fetal characteristics.

Conclusions: Gluten avoidance in pregnancy is common and, in women without celiac disease, is associated with higher rates of hypothyroidism and irritable bowel syndrome, fewer pregnancies, term births, and living children, and lower peripartum BMI, but is not associated with any obstetric or neonatal comorbidities. Avoiding gluten does not appear to adversely affect maternal or fetal health, but reasons for gluten avoidance, as well as long-term maternal and pediatric outcomes after gluten avoidance in pregnancy, warrant further study.