Maternal Gluten Sensitivity Linked to Schizophrenia Risk in Children

A recent study indicates that a greater risk of nonaffective disorders is linked to maternal gluten sensitivity. Nonaffective disorders involve psychosis that is not directly related to emotions or moods (such as bipolar disorder is). Examples are schizophrenia and delusional disorders.

Levels of anti-gliadin IgG (but not anti-casein IgG) above the 90th percentile of levels observed among comparison subjects were associated with nonaffective psychosis. “This association was not confounded by differences in maternal age, immigrant status, or mode of delivery. Similarly, gestational age at birth, ponderal index, and birth weight were not related to maternal levels of anti-gliadin IgG.” Authors concluded that high levels of anti-gliadin IgG in the maternal circulation are associated with an elevated risk for the development of a nonaffective psychosis in offspring.

For the research abstract, plus related figures and tables from theAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, please see here.