Self-Reported Prevalence of Gluten-Related Disorders and Adherence to Gluten-Free Diet in Colombian Adult Population

Abstract

Background. Celiac disease seems to be rare in Colombians, but there are currently no data about the prevalence rates of symptomatic adverse reactions to gluten or adherence to gluten-free diet (GFD) in this population. Aim. to evaluate the self-reported prevalence rates of adverse reactions to gluten, adherence to GFD, and gluten-related disorders at population level in Colombia. Methods. A self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a population from Northwest Colombia. Results. The estimated prevalence rates were (95% CI) 7.9% (6.5–9.6) and 5.3% (4.1–6.7) for adverse and recurrent adverse reactions to wheat/gluten, respectively, adherence to GFD 5.9% (4.7–7.4), wheat allergy 0.74% (0.3–1.4), and nonceliac gluten sensitivity 4.5% (3.5–5.8). There were no self-reported cases of celiac disease. Prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosis of gluten-related disorders was 0.41% (0.17–0.96). Most respondents reported adherence to GFD without a physician-diagnosis of gluten-related disorders (97.2%). The proportion of gluten avoiders was 17.2% (15.2–19.5). Most of them did not report recurrent adverse reactions to wheat/gluten (87.0%). Conclusions. Nonceliac gluten sensitivity is rarely formally diagnosed in Colombia, but this population has the highest prevalence rate of adherence to GFD reported to date. Consequently, most respondents were avoiding wheat- and/or gluten-based products for reasons other than health-related symptoms.

Non‐coeliac gluten or wheat sensitivity: emerging disease or misdiagnosis?

“…9 This is in line with similar studies from the US, Chile, United Kingdom and Europe that demonstrated a population prevalence of self-reported wheat or gluten sensitivity of between 4% and 13%. [9][10][11][12][13][14] This suggests that a gluten-sensitive condition, separate to coeliac disease and wheat allergy, may be responsible for their symptoms. This condition has attracted increasing international attention and has been labelled non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.…”

Gluten sensitivities and the allergist: Threshing the grain from the husks

“…Those magazines and social media are flooded with attractive advertisements of gluten‐free products, including cosmetics. Multiple population surveys revealed increasing individuals electing to follow a GFD (5.9% in northwest Colombia, 6.37% in Argentina, and 1.69% in the United States). The percentage of the population adhering to a GFD by far outpaced the percentage of individuals diagnosed with CD (0% in this Colombian study, 0.58% in Argentina, 0.58% in the United States).…”

Gluten-free diet in French adults without coeliac disease: sociodemographic characteristics, motives and dietary profile

“…an annual growth rate of 34 % between 2009 and 2014 and 10•4 % between 2014 and 2019 in the USA and Europe, respectively (1,11) . The number of people who avoid gluten is very large and varies, according to the studies and the geographic locations, between 3•7 % and 17•2 % (7,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) . Of the few studies that examined gluten avoidance in the general population, most of them focused on the motives and the symptoms related to gluten ingestion.…”

“…Of the few studies that examined gluten avoidance in the general population, most of them focused on the motives and the symptoms related to gluten ingestion. These studies reported that people avoiding gluten were more likely to be women, with other food intolerances like lactose (14)(15)(16)(17)(18) . Regarding the motives underlying gluten avoidance, the most common reported were weight control, perception that it is healthier and symptoms triggered after gluten ingestion (16)(17)(18) .…”

“…These studies reported that people avoiding gluten were more likely to be women, with other food intolerances like lactose (14)(15)(16)(17)(18) . Regarding the motives underlying gluten avoidance, the most common reported were weight control, perception that it is healthier and symptoms triggered after gluten ingestion (16)(17)(18) . These studies (16)(17)(18) reported that people without CD who avoid gluten included healthy persons and persons that considered themselves to be suffering from NCGS.…”