Avoidance of gluten cannot be the sole focus of a gluten-free diet

The most recent issue of the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics investigates the evidence of high sugar intake, and low fibre and mineral intake, in the gluten-free diet.

The only therapy for celiac disease is a long-term gluten-free diet.

Little is known about the detailed composition of such a diet.

Dr Robins and colleagues from the United Kingdom clarified the nutritional composition of a gluten-free diet, and compared it with a non-GFD diet in representative non-celiac disease populations.

A total of 139 consecutive patients with celiac disease were invited to fill in a prospective validated 5-day food diary, of whom data from 93 were analyzed.

Females adhering to a gluten-free diet had lower intakes of magnesium

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Results were compared with data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Adults and the UK Women's Cohort Study (UKWCS).

The research team found that individuals consuming a strict gluten-free diet generally had similar intakes of energy and nutrients to those of comparison populations, but a higher proportion of carbohydrate intake was obtained from nonmilk extrinsic sugars and intakes of nonstarch polysaccharides were low.

Compared with the UKWCS sample, female patients adhering to a gluten-free diet had lower intakes of magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, selenium and folate.

The team noted that in male patients, intakes of magnesium and selenium were particularly low.

Dr Robins' team concluded, "This study reinforces the need for clinicians to recognize that avoidance of gluten cannot be the sole focus of a gluten-free diet."

"Maintenance of adequate intakes of essential nutrients and in particular complex carbohydrates must also be the goal for patients."