The Doctor Gluten Project

Amanda says: ”Dear Dr Ford, I read your interesting article about GORD and gluten sensitivity. I think my daughter who is 15 months old may have a gluten and dairy allergy.

(She suffered from silent gastric reflux since she was six weeks old, and was medicated for this up until around nine months of age with Omeprazole. Although the symptoms have eased off she has developed eczema around her face and is very irritable and grizzly. She occasionally has very loose bowel movements which are quite 'mucousy.' The eczema seems to have cleared considerably since removing gluten and dairy from her diet, but still occasionally will flare up again. Possibly something I’m eating (she is still breastfed). My daughter also had sleep problems and has only very recently started to sleep through the night. )
 
I am interested to find out more about the possibility of my daughter having a diary allergy and a gluten sensitivity and would be keen to hear your point of view.”

I reply:

Yes, it is my experience that many gastric reflux babies have a problem with gluten and/or dairy.  The research studies show that about a third of reflux is triggered by dairy proteins.  My observation indicate that at least half of toddlers (1-3 years old) who still have reflux are made worse with gluten.

It is my clinical practice to test all of these children for IgG-gliadin (the gluten antibody).  If this test is abnormal, then I suggest a gluten free trial for 3 months.  Nearly all substantially improve.  Usually they can then come off their medications. Cheers,  Dr Rodney Ford.