Gliadin-specific IgA antibodies in breast milk.

Breast-feeding helps to protect against coeliac disease because of the presence of antigliadin-IgA antibodies (AGA-IgA) in breast milk. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of AGA-IgA in breast milk during lactation, and whether these concentrations vary with the socioeconomic status of the women. Samples of serum for determination of IgA albumin and AGA-IgA, and samples of breast-milk for AGA-IgA were collected from 105 healthy mothers (aged 17 - 36 years). Women were divided into two groups: group 1 were of low and group 2 were of high socioeconomic status. No differences were observed between the study parameters in the two groups. Serum AGA-IgA in both groups was, however, significantly lower than that in colostrum. AGA-IgA concentrations in both groups gradually decreased during 45 days of lactation; the difference between colostrum and the samples taken at days 10 and 30 - 45 of lactation was significant. The encouragement of sufficient and long-term (e.g. 4 - 6 months) breast-feeding seems likely to be beneficial in preventing coeliac disease.