Prevalence of Self-Reported Gluten-Related Disorders and Adherence to a Gluten-Free Diet in Salvadoran Adult Population

Noé Ontiveros, Cecilia Ivonne Rodríguez-Bellegarrigue, Gerardo Galicia-Rodríguez, Marcela De Jesús Vergara-Jiménez, Elia María Zepeda-Gómez, Jesús Gilberto Arámburo-Galvez, Martina Hilda Gracia-Valenzuela and Francisco Cabrera-Chávez
Additional contact information
Noé Ontiveros: División de Ciencias e Ingeniería, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Navojoa, Sonora 85880, Mexico
Cecilia Ivonne Rodríguez-Bellegarrigue: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Luis Edmundo Vasquez, Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Dr. José Matias Delgado, Antiguo Cuscatlán 1502, El Salvador
Gerardo Galicia-Rodríguez: Nutrition Sciences Academic Unit, University of Sinaloa, Av. Cedros and Sauces Street, Los Fresnos, Culiacán, Sinaloa 80019, Mexico
Marcela De Jesús Vergara-Jiménez: Nutrition Sciences Academic Unit, University of Sinaloa, Av. Cedros and Sauces Street, Los Fresnos, Culiacán, Sinaloa 80019, Mexico
Elia María Zepeda-Gómez: Nutrition Sciences Academic Unit, University of Sinaloa, Av. Cedros and Sauces Street, Los Fresnos, Culiacán, Sinaloa 80019, Mexico
Jesús Gilberto Arámburo-Galvez: Nutrition Sciences Academic Unit, University of Sinaloa, Av. Cedros and Sauces Street, Los Fresnos, Culiacán, Sinaloa 80019, Mexico
Martina Hilda Gracia-Valenzuela: Instituto Tecnológico del Valle del Yaqui, Block 611, Bácum, Valle del Yaqui, Sonora 82276, Mexico
Francisco Cabrera-Chávez: Nutrition Sciences Academic Unit, University of Sinaloa, Av. Cedros and Sauces Street, Los Fresnos, Culiacán, Sinaloa 80019, Mexico

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Gluten-related disorders are not considered of relevance at public health level in Central America. The prevalence of gluten-related disorders, and adherence to a gluten-free diet, remain unknown in the Central American region. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of the Central American population from San Salvador, El Salvador, to estimate the prevalence rates of self-reported gluten-related disorders and adherence to a gluten-free diet. 1326 individuals were surveyed. Self-reported prevalence rates were (95% Confidence Interval): gluten sensitivity 3.1% (2.3–4.2); physician-diagnosed celiac disease 0.15% (0.04–0.5); wheat allergy 0.75% (0.4–1.3); non-celiac gluten sensitivity 0.98% (0.5–1.6). The prevalence rate of adherence to a gluten-free diet was 7.0% (5.7–8.5). Seven self-reported physician diagnosed gluten-sensitive cases informed the co-existence of non-celiac gluten sensitivity with celiac disease and/or wheat allergy. Among the non-self-reported gluten sensitivity individuals following a gluten-free diet, 50% reported that they were seeing a health professional for gluten-free dietary advice. Gluten sensitivity is commonly reported in Salvadoran population, but some health professionals acknowledge the coexistence of wheat allergy, celiac disease, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Among studies at population level, the prevalence of adherence to a gluten-free diet in Salvadoran population is the highest reported until now. However, just a few of the gluten-free diet followers were doing it for health-related benefits; the others reported weight control and the perception that the diet is healthier as the main motivation for adopting such a diet.

Keywords: gluten-related disorders; gluten-free diet; gluten sensitivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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