Assessing Nutritional Quality and Adherence to the Gluten-free Diet in Children and Adolescents with Celiac Disease

• Published in: Canadian journal of dietetic practice and research Vol. 76; no. 2; pp. 56 - 63
• Main Authors: Alzaben, Abeer S, Turner, Justine, Shirton, Leanne, Samuel, Tarah M, Persad, Rabin, Mager, Diana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Dietitians of Canada 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Canada; Case-Control Studies; Celiac disease; Celiac Disease - diet therapy; Child; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Diet therapy; Diet, Gluten-Free; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; Energy Intake; Fatty Acids - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Female; Gluten-free diet; Glycemic Index; Glycemic Load; Health aspects; Healthy Diet; Humans; Male; Micronutrients - administration & dosage; Nutrition; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritive Value; Patient Compliance; Quality of Life; Studies; Canada
• ISSN: 1486-3847; 2292-9592
• DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2014-040

Little is known regarding nutritional adequacy of the gluten free diet (GFD) in children and adolescents with celiac disease (CD). The study aim was to examine macro- and micronutrient intake in children with CD. A cross-sectional study was conducted in children and adolescents (4-18 years of age) with CD (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 32). Macro- and micronutrient intake, and glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) intake was assessed using validated measures. Diet quality was assessed using the Canadian Healthy Eating Index (HEI-C) and the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines. Values are shown as mean ± SE. Age (10.4 ± 0.7 years vs 8.7 ± 0.7 years; P = 0.06), weight-for-age z score (P = 0.27), and height-for-age z score (P = 0.23) were not different between groups. CD children consumed more fibre (15.9 ± 1.2 g per day(CD) vs 10.8 ± 0.8 g per day (controls); P < 0.001), had higher GI (CD: 54 ± 2 vs 48 ± 1; P < 0.01) and GL (CD: 118 ± 8 vs 93 ± 7; P = 0.02), and lower folate (146.7 ± 15.3 (CD) vs 245.4 ± 21.8 µg per day (controls); P < 0.001) than controls. No differences in HEI-C scores (≤ and > 80) were observed between groups (P > 0.05). Children with CD had high intakes of fibre, GI, and GL and lower intakes of folate. This has implications for dietary counselling in this population.