We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Dietary compliance and life style of children with coeliac disease.
- Authors
Roma, E.; Roubani, A.; Kolia, E.; Panayiotou, J.; Zellos, A.; Syriopoulou, V. P.
- Abstract
Background: Coeliac disease (CD) is common and requires a permanent strict gluten-free diet (GFD). However, data concerning how the situation is experienced by children are limited. The present study aimed to investigate the compliance with a GFD and the impact of CD and GFD on the lifestyle of patients and their families, together with proposed recommendations for improvement of quality of life. Methods: Children with biopsy confirmed CD were recruited consecutively from the outpatient gastroenterology clinic. Participants were evaluated by a special questionnaire for compliance with the GFD, patients’ knowledge about CD, and the well-being and lifestyle of children and their families. Comparisons between discrete variables were performed by a chi-square test. Results: Seventy-three children of median age 9.4 (interquartile range = 5–14.5) years were evaluated. Compliance to diet was reported by 58%. Reasons for noncompliance were: poor palatability (32%), dining outside home (17%), poor availability of products (11%), and asymptomatic disease diagnosed by screening (11%). The acceptance of the GFD was reported as good in 65%, whereas avoidance of travelling and restaurants was stated by 17% and 46% of families, respectively. Most families experienced difficulties detecting gluten from the food label. Proposed factors for improvement of quality of life were: better labelling of gluten-containing ingredients (76%) and more gluten-free (GF) foods in supermarkets (58%) and restaurants (42%). Conclusions: Children with CD have low compliance with the GFD. Better education about the disease, the availability of GF products, and appropriate food labelling could improve compliance and quality of life.
- Subjects
GLUTEN-free diet; CELIAC disease; DIET in disease; DIET therapy; INTERNAL medicine; CHILDREN'S health; LIFESTYLES; HUMAN behavior; QUALITY of life
- Publication
Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, 2010, Vol 23, Issue 2, p176
- ISSN
0952-3871
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-277X.2009.01036.x