Adherence to a Gluten Free Diet Is Associated with Receiving Gluten Free Foods on Prescription and Understanding Food Labelling

• Published in: Nutrients 2017-07, Vol.9 (7), p.705
• Main Authors: Muhammad, Humayun, Reeves, Sue, Ishaq, Sauid, Mayberry, John, Jeanes, Yvonne M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Aged; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biopsy; Celiac disease; Celiac Disease - diet therapy; coeliac disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Descriptive labeling; Diet; Diet, Gluten-Free; dietary adherence; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Food; Food Analysis; Food Labeling; Gluten; gluten free; Glutens - chemistry; Humans; Labels; Male; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data; Patients; prescription; Prescriptions; Serology; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu9070705

Treatment of coeliac disease requires a strict gluten-free (GF) diet, however, a high proportion of patients do not adhere to a GF diet. The study explores the practical challenges of a GF diet and dietary adherence in Caucasian and South Asian adults with coeliac disease. Patients with biopsy- and serology-proven coeliac disease were recruited from a hospital database. Participants completed a postal survey ( = 375), including a validated questionnaire designed to measure GF dietary adherence. Half of Caucasians (53%) and South Asians (53%) were adhering to a GF diet. The quarter of patients ( = 97) not receiving GF foods on prescription had a lower GF dietary adherence score compared with those receiving GF foods on prescription (12.5 versus 16.0; < 0.001). Not understanding food labelling and non-membership of Coeliac UK were also associated with lower GF dietary adherence scores. A higher proportion of South Asian patients, compared with Caucasians, reported difficulties understanding what they can eat (76% versus 5%; < 0.001) and understanding of food labels (53% versus 4%; < 0.001). We recommend retaining GF foods on prescription, membership of a coeliac society, and regular consultations with a dietitian to enable better understanding of food labels. Robust studies are urgently needed to evaluate the impact of reducing the amount of GF foods prescribed on adherence to a GF diet in all population groups.