COMPLIANCE TO A GLUTEN-FREE DIET IN ADOLESCENTS, OR WHAT DO 300 CELIAC ADOLESCENTS EAT EVERY DAY

Background/Aims. Compliance to a gluten-fr ee diet is currently an imp ortant issue in the care of both adolescent and adult coeliac patients . The aim of this study was evaluate the compliance to a gluten-free d iet and the dietary habits in general of coeliac teenagers and young a dults. Patients and methods. A total of 306 adolescents and young adul ts were followed in a coeliac clinic. They were grouped on the basis o f: strict compliance to a gluten-free dietary regimen (n = 223, 73%); dietary transgressions 2 - 3 times/month (n = 46, 15%); and frequent t ransgressions or a full gluten-containing diet (n = 37, 12%). Results: The physical growth status was optimal in the male patients, and less so in the;females, but was not related to compliance. Symptoms were v ery rare in all groups. Compliance to the diet tvas related to sex (fe males better than males), age (younger better than older), good school grades, and good self-esteem. Conclusions: The teen-agers studied con sumed an average of about 11.32 kg/month of gluten-free products provi ded by the Italian Health System. Gluten-free pasta and bread were the daily choices. The mean cost for each patient was estimated to be Ita lian Lire 242,640 (ECU 124) per month or ECU 1,490/year.