More Scottish children
now affected by coeliac disease
New research has found that more children than ever before are living with coeliac disease - a
debilitating digestive disease.
A
TEAM OF SCIENTISTS from QMU and the University
of Edinburgh has found that coeliac disease now
affects six times more children living in Scotland than
it did in 1990.
Coeliac disease is a common digestive condition where a person
experiences adverse reactions to gluten. However, the disease
only affects those who carry the gene for the condition. Symptoms
can range from mild to severe and eating foods containing gluten
can trigger a range of symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal
pain, bloating, weight loss and flatulence. It can also make people
feel extremely tired and can even affect children’s growth. At its
most serious, coeliac disease may cause children to become
malnourished because their bodies struggle to absorb nutrients.
The research team analysed the health records of children
from South East Scotland aged under 16 years who were
newly diagnosed with the condition between 1990 and 2009.
Researchers based at Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh
found that the rate of children being newly diagnosed with coeliac
disease rose from 1.7 in every 100,000 children in 1990-1994 to
11.8 per 100,000 children in 2005-2009.
Findings from the study confirms a trend that doctors have
seen on a daily basis in Lothian, Fife and Borders. They are keen
to look closer at the reasons why they are seeing more patients
with coeliac disease, as the study found that it’s not just because
people are more aware of the disease or that tests to detect
coeliac disease have now improved.
The research discussed above was highlighted in the journal
‘Pediatrics’.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/09/04/
peds.2013-0932.abstract ❒
A gluten-free diet:
how good and easy is it?
Energy intake on a gluten-free diet
Further research by the scientific team from QMU and the University of Edinburgh examined the
dietary and nutrient intakes of 35 Scottish teenagers with coeliac disease and compared this
to healthy teenagers.
Lois White and Dr Elaine Bannerman from QMU, along with Dr Peter Gillett from Royal
Hospital for Sick Children, NHS Lothian, found that teenagers with coeliac disease had a
greater energy intake from sugar and saturated fat. It is believed that this may be due to a
wider availabili ty of gluten-free substitute products that are high in sugar and fat compared
with other food groups. Again, the team believes that further research is needed to
determine if true nutritional inequalities exist between the groups.
Sticking to a gluten-free diet
The research team also looked at how well Scottish
adolescents with coeliac disease stuck to a gluten-
free diet. Results showed that 39% of teenagers
adhered to their diet. This flagged up the possibility
that a significant proportion of teenagers may need
additional help so they could better follow a gluten-
free diet. Support could include help with better
understanding of food labelling and all scenarios when
dietary compliance is more difficult, such as preparing
for social events, eating during long distance travelling
and preparing a suitable diet whilst on holiday.
Dr Elaine Bannerman, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition
and Dietetics, said: “This research provides detailed
information on the dietary habits of adolescents with
coeliac disease, as well as insight into their dietary
compliance. These findings will assist the food industry, healthcare professionals
and specialist third sector groups to provide more targeted support to improve the
lives of young people with coeliac disease.”
This research has been funded by generous support from the Gloag family and Coeliac UK.
For further information about coeliac disease visit the Coeliac UK website: www.coeliac.org.uk ❒
QMYOU / Health & Rehabilitation
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