One-year follow-up of the nutritional status of celiac people on a gluten-free diet

Abstract

Background The gluten-free diet (GFD), the only effective treatment for celiac disease, is usually nutritionally imbalanced. The present work aimed to analyze the evolution of the nutritional status, dietary profile, and symptoms present among celiac people over one year on a GFD while receiving individualized dietary advice. Methods Twenty-seven adults and thirty-one celiac children/adolescents participated in the cohort study. They were followed by 3 visits, at diagnosis (vt0) and after 3 and 12 months (vt3;vt12). Participants filled out dietary and gastrointestinal symptoms questionnaires and received a personalized form from dietitians containing dietary advice and anthropometric and biochemical data evolution. Results Most patients presented normal BMI, fat and muscle mass, and biochemical parameters at diagnosis and vt12. By contrast, all participants consumed protein and lipids in excess and carbohydrates in defect, in both vt0 and vt12. Low intakes of cereals, fruits and vegetables and high of meat were observed, these also remain-ing unchanged after dietary counseling. Symptoms present decreased after vt3 but rebounded in vt12. Conclusions Few changes in dietary pattern and symptom elimination suggested that the intervention was not effective enough. More research is necessary to evaluate whether closer follow up and face-to-face dietary advice improve dietary habits of celiac people. Trial registration: Code PI2016069, Ethical Comitee of the Clinical Investigation of the Basque Country. Registered on 15 July 2016.