Dietary intake, smoking, and transient anti-gliadin antibodies

The detection of IgA anti-gliadin antibodies in adults can either be helpful in the diagnosis of coeliac disease, be persistent in subjects with normal jejunal mucosa, or occur transiently. We decided to investigate the effects of smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary intake on the development of IgA anti-gliadin antibodies.

Serum samples from subjects enrolled from a large Northern Ireland population sample (MONICA survey) were screened for IgA anti-endomysium and IgA anti-gliadin antibodies. All subjects with positive antibodies were invited for clinical assessment 3-4 years after the initial screening sample. During this follow-up a repeat serum sample was obtained and a jejunal biopsy performed. At enrollment in the MONICA survey, lifestyle information including smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary intake was obtained.

At follow-up 13 subjects had persistent positive serology and villous atrophy, and 9 had persistent positive serology but normal jejunal histology; in 29 the serology had returned to normal, and the jejunal histology was normal There was no difference in smoking, alcohol consumption, or dietary intake between subjects with and without coeliac disease. Subjects with transient serology findings ate significantly more soda bread than the other groups (at the time of initial screening). Analysis of gliadin content of soda bread and plain white bread showed a significantly higher amount of gliadin present in soda bread.

Subjects with transient IgA anti-gliadin antibodies eat significantly more soda bread. The gliadin content of Irish soda bread contained a greater amount of gliadin than white bread. Eating breads with high available gliadin content may cause the appearance of anti-gliadin antibody.