Gluten-Free Diet Adherence of Adult Celiac Disease Patients

Abstract

Aim: Celiac disease is characterized by intestinal malabsorption and only effective treatment is lifelong strict adherence to gluten-free diet. Adherence to gluten-free diet can significantly restore intestinal mucosa, decrease morbidity and mortality. Aim of this study is to determine gluten-free diet adherence of adult celiac disease patients.
Subjects and Method: A total of 45 adults (13 male, 32 female) participated in the study. Subjects completed a questionnaire including general demographic characteristics, nutritional habits, information about adherence to gluten-free diet. Weight and height measurements were self-reported. Statistical significance was accepted as p<0.05.
Results: Mean age was 38.5±12.2 years and mean duration of disease was 5.2±5.6 years. Average body mass index of men and women were 23.5±3.3 kg/m2 and 23.9±4.9 kg/m2, respectively. The most common symptoms since the onset of celiac were fatigue (70.0%), dyspeptic symptoms (56.4%), loss of strength (56.1%), nausea (48.7%), weight loss (46.2%). According to duration of disease, compliance rates were 80% in patients with less than 2 years of diagnosis, and 38.9% in patients with disease duration 2 to 5 years. However, the compliance of patients with celiac for more than 5 years were 83.3%. The most commonly consumed gluten containing foods were processed meat products (65%), tomato paste (44.7%), chocolate (31.6%), ketchup (30.6%), white bread (23.7%). Additionally, consumption of processed meat products was found significantly higher with longer duration of disease (p<0.05).
Conclusion: All celiac patients are expected to adhere to the gluten-free diet as an effective dietary treatment because gluten-free diet improves nutritional status and quality of life, reduces metabolic complications in celiac. However, it was concluded that even in celiac patients with the highest compliance, this rate is lower than desired level therefore celiac patients should consume the processed foods carefully that causes problems in their diets.