Gluten-free diet changes the lipid profile of children and adolescents with coeliac condition

Introduction: the gluten-free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease. Gluten-free products contain a higher percentage of carbohydrates and saturated lipids, which can lead to long-term metabolic problems. The aim of this study is to analyse the lipid profile of children and adolescents under 18 years of age after their diagnosis of coeliac disease and its modification after starting treatment.

Material and methods: to this end, a retrospective observational study of children diagnosed with coeliac disease without other comorbidity and following a strict gluten-free diet was carried out. Lipid profiles were collected and compared at disease onset, one year and six years after the start of the gluten-free diet.

Results: twenty-four paediatric patients were included and an increase in total cholesterol levels and a decrease in triglyceride levels were observed, both with statistical significance (p<0.05).

Conclusions: we believe it is important to analyse the nutritional profile of paediatric coeliac patients at the time of diagnosis of the disease as well as during the follow-up of their gluten-free diet, in order to detect metabolic and/or nutritional problems at an early stage, thus preventing the development of consequences that may appear as early as infancy.