Celiac Disease in ChildrenGRAINNCT04593888
Gluten Reduction and Risk of Celiac Disease
A study testing Gluten reduced diet in people with Celiac Disease in Children and Autoimmune Diseases, run by Lund University at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
Celiac disease shares many features of other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Recently, it was published that higher amounts of gluten intake increased the risk for celiac disease. Optimal amounts of gluten to be introduced during weaning have not yet been established. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 6 months
- Conditions the study is for
- Celiac Disease in Children, Autoimmune Diseases, type1diabetes
- What is being tested?
- Gluten reduced diet
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 1,141 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- 5 May 2021to 31 Dec 2035
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 6 to 6 months
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- children screened positive for HLA DQ2/X (X is neither DQ2 or DQ8)
- children who refused enrolment to the on-going study PreSiCe (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03562221)
Who cannot join
- congenital chronic disorder where intervention with diet may be affected
- written informed consent from both caregivers are missing
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Gluten Reduction After Infancy and Risk of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease shares many features of other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Recently, it was published that higher amounts of gluten intake increased the risk for celiac disease. Optimal amounts of gluten to be introduced during weaning have not yet been established. The aim is to investigate if a gluten-restricted diet (e.g. below 3 gram per day) during the first 3 years of life will reduce the risk of develop CDA and IA in genetically predisposed children by the age of 7 years. Children who screened positive for HLA DQ2/X (X is neither DQ2 nor DQ8) in the GPPAD-02 (ASTR1D [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03316261]) screening will be contacted by a study nurse.
Read the detailed description
Gluten is a complex mixture of proteins, mainly gliadin and glutenin, rich in proline and glutamine amino acids which make these proteins resistant to complete degradation by enzymes in the small intestinal. Intolerance to gluten leads to inflammation of the intestinal epithelium and villous atrophy, a disorder called celiac disease. Celiac disease shares many features of other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). First, celiac disease is associated with certain HLA genotypes of whom 95% of all patients with celiac disease carry the haplotypes DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (abbreviated DQ2) and the reminder 5% DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (abbreviated DQ8). There is a gene dose effect of HLA-DQ on the risk of develop celiac disease; 20% of the children homozygous for HLA-DQ2/DQ2 will develop celiac disease by 10 years of age. Second, celiac disease is also strongly associated with the presence of autoantibodies directed against tissue transglutaminase (tTGA) that occurs in 100% of children with celiac disease. Timing of gluten introduction and breastfeeding duration have previously been proposed to influence risk for celiac disease. However, based on the results from the multinational birth cohort study The Environmental determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study and other observational studies, timing of gluten introduction seems not associated with celiac disease in genetically at-risk children. In an RCT, introduction of small amounts of gluten at the age of 4-6 months did not reduce the risk for celiac disease by the age of 3 years in genetically at-risk children. Current international infant feeding recommendations recommend that gluten is introduced into the infant's diet anytime between 4-12 months of age and that consumption of large quantities of gluten should be avoided during the first month after gluten introduction and during infancy. Recently, the TEDDY study published that higher amounts of gluten intake increased the risk for celiac disease, which have been confirmed in two other observational cohort studies. In the TEDDY study, daily gluten intake was associated with higher increased risk of developing persistently positive tTGA, a definition coined celiac disease autoimmunity (CDA), as well as with celiac disease for every 1-g/day increase in gluten intake. Optimal amounts of gluten to be introduced during weaning have not yet been established. It is well known that an overlap between celiac disease and T1D exists most likely due to shared genetic risks of HLA-DQ2 and/or DQ8 in both disorders. Prospective studies in infants genetically predisposed to T1D and celiac disease showed that antibody positivity to both disorders begins in the first 1-3 years of life. The study aim is to investigate if a gluten-restricted diet during the first 3 years of life will reduce the risk of develop CDA and IA in genetically predisposed children by the age of 7 years.
- Being tested
- Gluten reduced diet
- Keywords
- gluten, diet
- Medical subject headings
- Autoimmune Diseases
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Gluten reduced dietBehavioural
Dietary advice focusing on reducing gluten intake in children
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| No intervention | No intervention | The group will be followed without any intervention, with regular visits at the research clinic. |
| Gluten reduced diet | Experimental | Subjects will follow a diet that does not exceed a daily intake of 3 gram gluten.
The group will be followed with regular visits at the research clinic. Receives: Behavioral: Gluten reduced diet |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Celiac disease autoimmunity (CDA)
Children tested positive for tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (tTGA) in two consecutive serum samples 3-6 months apart.
Measured: from 6 months of age up until 7 years of age
Secondary outcomes (1)
Celiac disease (CD)
celiac disease diagnosed, defined by intestinal biopsy showing a Marsh score of >2 or by high levels of tTGA with symptoms.
Measured: from 6 months of age up until 7 years of age
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Oct 2020
- Study start5 May 2021
- Primary completion31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2035 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Celiac Disease in ChildrenStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Lund UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 1,141 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Lund University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Daniel Agardh, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Lund University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04593888
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2020-00446
- Acronym
- GRAIN
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Oct 2020
- Last updated
- 13 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Andren Aronsson C, Lee HS, Hard Af Segerstad EM, Uusitalo U, Yang J, Koletzko S, Liu E, Kurppa K, Bingley PJ, Toppari J, Ziegler AG, She JX, Hagopian WA, Rewers M, Akolkar B, Krischer JP, Virtanen SM, Norris JM, Agardh D; TEDDY Study Group. Association of Gluten Intake During the First 5 Years of Life With Incidence of Celiac Disease Autoimmunity and Celiac Disease Among Children at Increased Risk. JAMA. 2019 Aug 13;322(6):514-523. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.10329.
PubMed 31408136Marild K, Dong F, Lund-Blix NA, Seifert J, Baron AE, Waugh KC, Taki I, Stordal K, Tapia G, Stene LC, Johnson RK, Liu E, Rewers MJ, Norris JM. Gluten Intake and Risk of Celiac Disease: Long-Term Follow-up of an At-Risk Birth Cohort. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019 Aug;114(8):1307-1314. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000255.
PubMed 31082869Vriezinga SL, Auricchio R, Bravi E, Castillejo G, Chmielewska A, Crespo Escobar P, Kolacek S, Koletzko S, Korponay-Szabo IR, Mummert E, Polanco I, Putter H, Ribes-Koninckx C, Shamir R, Szajewska H, Werkstetter K, Greco L, Gyimesi J, Hartman C, Hogen Esch C, Hopman E, Ivarsson A, Koltai T, Koning F, Martinez-Ojinaga E, te Marvelde C, Pavic A, Romanos J, Stoopman E, Villanacci V, Wijmenga C, Troncone R, Mearin ML. Randomized feeding intervention in infants at high risk for celiac disease. N Engl J Med. 2014 Oct 2;371(14):1304-15. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1404172.
PubMed 25271603Lionetti E, Castellaneta S, Francavilla R, Pulvirenti A, Tonutti E, Amarri S, Barbato M, Barbera C, Barera G, Bellantoni A, Castellano E, Guariso G, Limongelli MG, Pellegrino S, Polloni C, Ughi C, Zuin G, Fasano A, Catassi C; SIGENP (Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) Working Group on Weaning and CD Risk. Introduction of gluten, HLA status, and the risk of celiac disease in children. N Engl J Med. 2014 Oct 2;371(14):1295-303. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1400697.
PubMed 25271602Andren Aronsson C, Lee HS, Koletzko S, Uusitalo U, Yang J, Virtanen SM, Liu E, Lernmark A, Norris JM, Agardh D; TEDDY Study Group. Effects of Gluten Intake on Risk of Celiac Disease: A Case-Control Study on a Swedish Birth Cohort. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016 Mar;14(3):403-409.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2015.09.030. Epub 2015 Nov 25.
PubMed 26453955
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Gluten Reduction After Infancy and Risk of Celiac Disease
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04593888
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GRAIN / 2020-00446
- Keywords
- gluten, diet
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 1,141 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Lund UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 May 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2035 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Oct 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Celiac disease shares many features of other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Recently, it was published that higher amounts of gluten intake increased the risk for celiac disease. Optimal amounts of gluten to be introduced during weaning have not yet been established. The aim is to investigate if a gluten-restricted diet (e.g. below 3 gram per day) during the first 3 years of life will reduce the risk of develop CDA and IA in genetically predisposed children by the age of 7 years. Children who screened positive for HLA DQ2/X (X is neither DQ2 nor DQ8) in the GPPAD-02 (ASTR1D [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03316261]) screening will be contacted by a study nurse.
Detailed description
Gluten is a complex mixture of proteins, mainly gliadin and glutenin, rich in proline and glutamine amino acids which make these proteins resistant to complete degradation by enzymes in the small intestinal. Intolerance to gluten leads to inflammation of the intestinal epithelium and villous atrophy, a disorder called celiac disease. Celiac disease shares many features of other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). First, celiac disease is associated with certain HLA genotypes of whom 95% of all patients with celiac disease carry the haplotypes DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (abbreviated DQ2) and the reminder 5% DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (abbreviated DQ8). There is a gene dose effect of HLA-DQ on the risk of develop celiac disease; 20% of the children homozygous for HLA-DQ2/DQ2 will develop celiac disease by 10 years of age. Second, celiac disease is also strongly associated with the presence of autoantibodies directed against tissue transglutaminase (tTGA) that occurs in 100% of children with celiac disease. Timing of gluten introduction and breastfeeding duration have previously been proposed to influence risk for celiac disease. However, based on the results from the multinational birth cohort study The Environmental determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study and other observational studies, timing of gluten introduction seems not associated with celiac disease in genetically at-risk children. In an RCT, introduction of small amounts of gluten at the age of 4-6 months did not reduce the risk for celiac disease by the age of 3 years in genetically at-risk children. Current international infant feeding recommendations recommend that gluten is introduced into the infant's diet anytime between 4-12 months of age and that consumption of large quantities of gluten should be avoided during the first month after gluten introduction and during infancy. Recently, the TEDDY study published that higher amounts of gluten intake increased the risk for celiac disease, which have been confirmed in two other observational cohort studies. In the TEDDY study, daily gluten intake was associated with higher increased risk of developing persistently positive tTGA, a definition coined celiac disease autoimmunity (CDA), as well as with celiac disease for every 1-g/day increase in gluten intake. Optimal amounts of gluten to be introduced during weaning have not yet been established. It is well known that an overlap between celiac disease and T1D exists most likely due to shared genetic risks of HLA-DQ2 and/or DQ8 in both disorders. Prospective studies in infants genetically predisposed to T1D and celiac disease showed that antibody positivity to both disorders begins in the first 1-3 years of life. The study aim is to investigate if a gluten-restricted diet during the first 3 years of life will reduce the risk of develop CDA and IA in genetically predisposed children by the age of 7 years.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| No intervention | No intervention | –The group will be followed without any intervention, with regular visits at the research clinic. |
| Gluten reduced diet | Experimental | Behavioral: Gluten reduced dietSubjects will follow a diet that does not exceed a daily intake of 3 gram gluten. The group will be followed with regular visits at the research clinic. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 6 months
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- children screened positive for HLA DQ2/X (X is neither DQ2 or DQ8)
- children who refused enrolment to the on-going study PreSiCe (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03562221)
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- congenital chronic disorder where intervention with diet may be affected
- written informed consent from both caregivers are missing
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten reduced dietDietary advice focusing on reducing gluten intake in children | Behavioural | Gluten reduced diet |
Primary outcome
Celiac disease autoimmunity (CDA)
Time frame: from 6 months of age up until 7 years of age
Children tested positive for tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (tTGA) in two consecutive serum samples 3-6 months apart.
1 secondary outcome
Celiac disease (CD)
Time frame: from 6 months of age up until 7 years of age
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Apr 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 31408136Andren Aronsson C, Lee HS, Hard Af Segerstad EM, Uusitalo U, Yang J, Koletzko S, Liu E, Kurppa K, Bingley PJ, Toppari J, Ziegler AG, She JX, Hagopian WA, Rewers M, Akolkar B, Krischer JP, Virtanen SM, Norris JM, Agardh D; TEDDY Study Group. Association of Gluten Intake During the First 5 Years of Life With Incidence of Celiac Disease Autoimmunity and Celiac Disease Among Children at Increased Risk. JAMA. 2019 Aug 13;322(6):514-523. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.10329.
- Results publication: PubMed 31082869Marild K, Dong F, Lund-Blix NA, Seifert J, Baron AE, Waugh KC, Taki I, Stordal K, Tapia G, Stene LC, Johnson RK, Liu E, Rewers MJ, Norris JM. Gluten Intake and Risk of Celiac Disease: Long-Term Follow-up of an At-Risk Birth Cohort. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019 Aug;114(8):1307-1314. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000255.
- Results publication: PubMed 25271603Vriezinga SL, Auricchio R, Bravi E, Castillejo G, Chmielewska A, Crespo Escobar P, Kolacek S, Koletzko S, Korponay-Szabo IR, Mummert E, Polanco I, Putter H, Ribes-Koninckx C, Shamir R, Szajewska H, Werkstetter K, Greco L, Gyimesi J, Hartman C, Hogen Esch C, Hopman E, Ivarsson A, Koltai T, Koning F, Martinez-Ojinaga E, te Marvelde C, Pavic A, Romanos J, Stoopman E, Villanacci V, Wijmenga C, Troncone R, Mearin ML. Randomized feeding intervention in infants at high risk for celiac disease. N Engl J Med. 2014 Oct 2;371(14):1304-15. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1404172.
- Results publication: PubMed 25271602Lionetti E, Castellaneta S, Francavilla R, Pulvirenti A, Tonutti E, Amarri S, Barbato M, Barbera C, Barera G, Bellantoni A, Castellano E, Guariso G, Limongelli MG, Pellegrino S, Polloni C, Ughi C, Zuin G, Fasano A, Catassi C; SIGENP (Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) Working Group on Weaning and CD Risk. Introduction of gluten, HLA status, and the risk of celiac disease in children. N Engl J Med. 2014 Oct 2;371(14):1295-303. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1400697.
- Results publication: PubMed 26453955Andren Aronsson C, Lee HS, Koletzko S, Uusitalo U, Yang J, Virtanen SM, Liu E, Lernmark A, Norris JM, Agardh D; TEDDY Study Group. Effects of Gluten Intake on Risk of Celiac Disease: A Case-Control Study on a Swedish Birth Cohort. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016 Mar;14(3):403-409.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2015.09.030. Epub 2015 Nov 25.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Daniel Agardh, MD, PhD principal investigator
Lund University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Gluten reduced diet in people with Celiac Disease in Children and Autoimmune Diseases, run by Lund University at 1 site in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Celiac disease autoimmunity (CDA) (time frame: from 6 months of age up until 7 years of age). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04593888, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Apr 2026.