Evaluación del estado de salud y nutricional de pacientes celiacos de la Comunidad Valenciana

Resumen

Celiac disease is an autoimmune pathology characterized by a chronic inflammation of the proximal part of the small intestine, caused by exposure to a vegetable protein present in some cereals called gluten. These cereals are wheat, barley, rye and, possibly by cross-contamination issues, oats. Due to a cell-mediated immune response towards gluten, changes in the structure and function of the small intestine mucosa occur, so the gut loses its ability to digest and absorb nutrients from food. The main symptoms are among others, chronic diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, increased risk of developing T-cell lymphoma, bloating and abdominal pain, steatorrhea, malnutrition, short stature, delayed puberty, normal fatigue, depression, infertility, rickets, osteopenia, muscle cramps, dental hypoplasia and injury in the pancreas, liver and thyroid. OBJECTIVES: - To evaluate energetic and nutritionally celiac patients from Valencia and verify if their intakes fit with the recommended intake and nutritional goals for the Spanish population. - To determinate delays in the diagnosis of disease, symptoms suffered, recovery after the diagnosis, quality of life and social disruption, the prevalence of other diseases, reproductive problems, prevalence of celiac disease in close relatives and the recommendations of the patient. - To evaluate de utility of the educational workshops to acquire knowledge in celiac children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 166 patients, 98 adults and 66 children aged 2-14 years with celiac disease were assessed in the survey during the years 2009-2010. RESULTS: In adults, the mean delay in diagnosis was eleven years and the mean of doctors consulted before setting de diagnostic was six. Celiac patients failed to perform many activities because of their particular diet: eating at restaurants, traveling, going to birthday parties, etc... The prevalence of osteoporosis or osteopenia was twice as frequent among those who were diagnosed in the adult stage. 95% of celiacs found difficulties about reading food labels. In children, knowledge about celiac disease and healthy nourishment increased with the educational workshop.