The Effect of Gluten-Free Diet Duration on Body Mass Index of Iranian Patients with Celiac Disease

Abstract

Background: A gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only effective treatment of celiac disease (CD) that is associated with body mass index (BMI) changes. This study aimed to determine how GFD duration affects the BMI of Iranian patients with CD. Methods: In this prospective study, 215 patients with CD, who were on a GFD, were categorized into three groups according to the duration of compliance to GFD: 1. patients with less than 6 months of diet, 2. Patients who had a diet for 6 months to 2 years, and 3. patients with more than 2 years of diet. The BMI changes were assessed before and after adherence to the GFD. Results: Most patients’ weight remains in the same BMI category during different courses of GFD adherence. Patients who were underweight showed significant changes in their BMI following the diet in less than 6 months (P=0.033) and more than 2 years (P<0.001), and the number of weight gain cases increased over time. Conclusion: There is a need for careful, updated, and personalized nutrition management of patients with CD in different periods of the diet. Conducting similar studies with larger sample sizes in different regions can lead to providing expert dietary counseling for patients with CD.

Assessment of dietary patterns in celiac disease patients using factor analysis method and their relationship with dietary intakes and body mass index

“…Those aged 31–60 had notable changes in BMI under 6 months, while adhering for more than 6 months showed changes for individuals aged 18–60. These differences may stem from varied eating habits among age groups and hormonal disparities [ 25 ].…”

Gluten-Free Diet and Other Celiac Disease Therapies: Current Understanding and Emerging Strategies

“…The most promising approaches involve gluten neutralisation and TG2 inhibition and immunomodulation. Noteworthy gluten neutralization agents [135] include: latiglutenase (ALV003, Alvine Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Carlos, CA, USA) [136], a mixture of endopeptidases that proteolyze gluten and reduce its immunogenicity; TAK-062 (Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Osaka, Japan) [137,138], an endopeptidase designed to target proline and glutamine peptides; and BL-7010 (BioLineRx Ltd., Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, Israel) [136], a synthetic polymer that binds to gliadin peptides, facilitating their elimination through the gastrointestinal tract. The main targets of gluten transport centre on tight junction proteins, particularly zonulin.…”

The Potential of Algae in Treating Celiac Disease

“…Celiac disease (CD) is a digestive system-related disorder that is caused by an abnormal immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley [11,12]. These abnormal immune responses lead to an inflammatory response that damages the lining of the intestine and hinders nutrient absorption [12].…”

“…The only therapeutic option for this disorder is adherence to a lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD), which is difficult to maintain. Therefore, recent studies have focused on finding supplementary or alternative therapy for CD patients [11].…”