Effect of gluten-free diet on the growth and nutritional status of children with coeliac disease

Abstract

GFD applied for 1-3 years has a highly significant effect on the growth rate and nutritional status of children with the classical form of CD. Significant differences in these parameters of the disease were not detected between strictly compliant and non-compliant patients on GFD.

Effects of age of diagnosis and dietary compliance on growth parameters of patients with celiac disease

“…While catch-up growth with gluten elimination is observed in children, several studies reported that anthropometric measurements are not correlated with dietary compliance. 19 Radlovic et al, 20 compared patients who were fully compliant and noncompliant with GFD. They found that there was improvement in the weight, height, and hemoglobin levels, but a significant difference was not found between the two groups.…”

Gluten-Free Diet in Children: An Approach to a Nutritionally Adequate and Balanced Diet

“…On the one hand, there is evidence that good compliance with GFD is associated with a positive effect on anthropometric parameters, including: the reduction of fat and the recovery of lean body mass [26], normalization of body mass index (BMI) in both previously underweight and overweight subjects [27] and acceleration of linear growth [28]. A study conducted in children with CD and obesity at diagnosis showed a significant reduction in BMI after 12 months of GFD [29].…”

Intakes of nutrients in Italian children with celiac disease and the role of commercially available gluten‐free products

“…Some studies have recently evaluated anthropometric parameters in CD patients on GFD, with evidence, on the one hand, that good compliance with GFD is associated with recovery of fat and lean body mass (Barera et al ., ), body weight and acceleration of linear growth (Radlovic et al ., ) and also with normalisation of body mass index (BMI) in both previously underweight and overweight subjects (Cheng et al ., ), and on the other hand, that GFD may contribute to undesirabe weight gain and obesity (Mariani et al ., ; Dickey & Kearney, ; Valletta et al ., ). In obese children at diagnosis, a reduction in BMI has been observed after 12 months of GFD (Venkatasubramani et al ., ).…”