| Affiliation: | 1.Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Medicine,University of New South Wales,Sydney,Australia;2.Department of Nutrition and Dietetics,Sydney Children’s Hospital,Randwick,Australia;3.Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology,Sydney Children’s Hospital,Randwick,Australia |
| Abstract: | ![]()
Purpose of ReviewA strict, lifelong gluten-free diet is the cornerstone for management of coeliac disease. Elimination of gluten from the diet may be associated with nutritional imbalance; however, the completeness of this diet in energy and macro- and micronutrients in children is not well described. Understanding the nutritional adequacy of the gluten-free diet in children during this critical period of growth and development when dietary intake is strongly influential is important.Recent FindingsChildren, regardless of whether they have eliminated gluten from their diet, have a tendency to consume excess fat and insufficient fibre, iron, vitamin D and calcium, compared to recommendations. In the context of a gluten-free diet, these imbalances may be worsened or have more significant consequences. Paediatric studies have demonstrated that intakes of folate, magnesium, zinc and selenium may decrease on a gluten-free diet.SummaryNutritional inadequacies may be risks of a gluten-free diet in a paediatric population. The potential implications of these inadequacies, both short and long term, remain unclear and warrant further investigation and clarification. |
