Dietary Challenges in Adults with Celiac Disease in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Gluten free diet is the only proven treatment for celiac disease. This study aims to investigate the dietary challenges of adults with celiac disease. A web-based survey was completed by adult patients diagnosed with CD across Saudi Arabia. The survey included questions exploring demographics, the challenges in their diet as well as questions about their behaviour of eating out. Most of the participants were females and more than half are living in Riyadh. Furthermore, 65.7% were diagnosed by bowel biopsy and 72.3% were diagnosed for more than 1 year, 95.8% are following a gluten-free diet but 51.8% are not under a nutritional program 57.1% are not following up with a dietitian. Furthermore, 96.4% of participants considered restaurants are problems in providing gluten-free food and 86.1% are avoiding restaurants. This study concluded that adults with celiac disease are following GFD without follow -up with health care providers (HCPs), this can lead to increase many complications of this disease. Moreover, increasing the awareness about CD and GFD is important among patients, HCPs and society including, families and friends and people dealing with food business.