Low incidence rates by birth of symptomatic coeliac disease in a Danish population of children.

Using the original diagnostic criteria of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition for symptomatic coeliac disease in children, we found an average incidence rate by birth of 0.10 per 1000 live births in a demographically homogeneous Danish population over a 15-year period. This incidence rate by birth is the lowest described in an epidemiological study in contrast with rates of 0.33 to 8 per 1000 live births found in other western countries. This difference may be explained by the different diagnostic criteria used for coeliac disease. Another contributing factor may be a late and gradual introduction of gluten-containing cereals into the diet of Danish infants.