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Gluten timing does not prevent celiac disease

By WTOP Staff

MARILYNN MARCHIONE
AP Chief Medical Writer

Two studies give disappointing news for parents looking for a way to prevent celiac disease in babies at higher risk for it because of family history. Neither breast-feeding nor timing the start of gluten-containing foods makes a difference in whether a child develops the problem, researchers found.

There is no early window of opportunity to help sensitize a baby to gluten, and delaying its start until 1 year of age just briefly postpones the onset of symptoms, the studies found.

“We don’t have a recipe to prevent it right now,” said Dr. Alessio Fasano, director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital. He helped lead one of the studies, which are in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine.

Doctors stressed that babies should not get any solid food before 4 to 5 months of age and that breast-feeding is still good for many other reasons.

Gluten sensitivity or intolerance have become dietary buzzwords, but celiac disease is more than that — it’s an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, a substance in wheat, barley and rye. It affects cells in the small bowel and can cause pain, diarrhea and other symptoms. For unknown reasons, it’s on the rise and is now four to five times more common than it was 50 years ago.

The studies tested food timing as a way to lower risk in babies with a close relative who has the disease.

One involved more than 700 infants in Italy started on gluten-containing foods either at 6 months of age or later, at 12 months. After two years, more babies in the early gluten group had signs of disease, but after five years, the groups were similar on risk.

Instead, the biggest factor was the babies’ immune systems — inherited risk. By 10 years of age, those with two copies of a certain gene had a 40 percent risk of developing celiac disease — 40 times greater than the general population, Fasano said.

The study was funded by the Celiac Foundation of the Italian Celiac Society. Some authors are visiting scientists at Mass General.

The second study of 944 children throughout Europe tested the idea that an early start on gluten might build tolerance to it. Infants were given either small amounts of gluten or a placebo every day from 4 to 6 months of age. About 5 percent of both groups developed celiac disease by age 3. The study was funded by the European Commission and others.

The research is likely to change medical advice, says a commentary in the journal by Dr. Jonas Ludvigsson of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and and Dr. Peter H.R. Green of Columbia University in New York.

“From now on, it will be hard for anyone to continue to recommend the introduction of gluten specifically at the age of 4 to 6 months” as many doctors have been doing, they wrote.

Because the prevalence of the genes related to risk have not changed, nor the gluten content of wheat flour, “other environmental factors must be contributing” to the rise in celiac disease, they write.

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Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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