The gluten-free diet: access and economic aspects and impact on lifestyle

Background: The cost and availability of gluten-free products (GFPs) are aspects associated with gluten-free dietary compliance. In turn, following a gluten-free diet (GFD) could impact on lifestyle. Objectives: To investigate the availability and cost of GFPs in Northwestern Mexico, to associate th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inNutrition and dietary supplements Vol. 10; pp. 27 - 34
Main Authors Arias-Gastelum, Mayra, Cabrera-Chavez, Francisco, Vergara-Jimenez, Marcela de Jesus, Ontiveros, Noe
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Macclesfield Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2018
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Dove Medical Press
Subjects
Availability
Celiac disease
Cities
Compliance
Cost
Diet
Dietitians
Economic aspects
Finance
Gluten
Gluten-free diet
Grocery stores
Health aspects
Health foods industry
Lifestyle
Lifestyles
Management
Medical personnel
Mexico
Natural & organic foods
Nutrition research
Physicians
Quality of life
Questionnaires
Studies
Supermarkets
Mexico
Baja California Mexico
United Kingdom > UK
United States > US
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Background: The cost and availability of gluten-free products (GFPs) are aspects associated with gluten-free dietary compliance. In turn, following a gluten-free diet (GFD) could impact on lifestyle. Objectives: To investigate the availability and cost of GFPs in Northwestern Mexico, to associate these factors with gluten-free dietary noncompliance, and to evaluate the impact of the GFD on lifestyle. Materials and methods: Gluten-containing foods were compared with their gluten-free versions. The data were collected by store visitation (16 supermarkets and 10 health food stores). Individuals prescribed a GFD by a physician were surveyed (n=36). Results: The gluten-free versions investigated (n=16) had limited availability (average 26.9%; 4.3 gluten-free versions available per store) and were more expensive than their gluten-containing counterparts (190%-1088%, P<0.05). Poor gluten-free dietary compliance was attributed to the high cost (n=36) and low availability (n=30) of GFPs. Most respondents were afraid of dining out (n=35), were limiting their social activities (n=32), and had difficulties traveling (n=30). Conclusion: Health care professionals who counsel gluten-sensitive patients should provide tools to facilitate access to GFPs and to minimize the cost of the GFD, and consider the diet-associated social restrictions. Keywords: gluten-free diet, cost, availability, lifestyle, Mexico
ISSN:1179-1489
1179-1489
DOI:10.2147/NDS.S143404