OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the nutritional status and intakes of energy and macronutrients of celiac disease patients compliant or not with a gluten-free diet. METHODS: We studied 63 patients with celiac disease, 34 children and 29 adolescents. Noncompliance with a gluten-free diet was characterized by detection of antibodies to tissue transglutaminase in serum by recombinant human tissue transglutaminase antigen. Nutritional status was classified according to the weight-for-age, height-for-age, and body mass index Z-scores. Dietary intake was assessed by a 24-hour recall. RESULTS: The percentages of children and adolescents noncompliant with a gluten-free diet were 41.2% and 34.5%, respectively. Noncompliant children had a lower mean height-for-age Z-score than compliant children (p=0.024). However, noncompliant children had higher mean body mass index Z-score than compliant children (p=0.021). On the other hand, compliant adolescents had higher BMI than noncompliant adolescents (p=0.037). The food intake between the groups did not differ, but the energy intakes of 70.0% of the children and adolescents exceeded 120.0% of their requirements. CONCLUSION: Children who do not comply with a gluten-free diet have lower height-for-age Z-scores and higher body mass index Z-scores than children who comply. Compliant adolescents have a higher mean body mass index than noncompliant adolescents. High energy intake was observed in both children and adolescents.
Adolescent; Child; Celiac disease; Nutritional status
