Self-Reported Prevalence of Symptomatic Adverse Reactions to Gluten and Adherence to Gluten-Free Diet in an Adult

Nutrition Sciences Academic Unit, University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa 80019, Mexico;E-Mails: aristeo.lopez37@hotmail.com (J.A.L.-G.); mjvergara@uas.edu.mx (M.J.V.-J.)* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: fcabrera@uas.edu.mx;Tel./Fax: +52-667-753-5454.Received: 31 May 2015 / Accepted: 14 July 2015 / Published: 21 July 2015Abstract: The prevalence of symptomatic adverse reactions to gluten and adherenceto gluten-free diet in Latin American countries is unknown. These measurements arestrongly linked to gluten-related disorders. This work aimed to estimate the prevalence ofadverse reactions to oral gluten and the adherence to gluten-free diet in the adult Mexicanpopulation. To reach this aim, a self-administered questionnaire was designed and tested forclarity/comprehension and reproducibility. Then, a self-administered questionnaire-basedcross-sectional study was conducted in the Mexican population. The estimated prevalencerates were (95% CI): 11.9% (9.9–13.5) and 7.8 (6.4–9.4) for adverse and recurrent adversereactions to gluten respectively; adherence to gluten-free diet 3.7% (2.7–4.8), wheat allergy0.72% (0.38–1.37); celiac disease 0.08% (0.01–0.45), and NCGS 0.97% (0.55–1.68).Estimated pooled prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosis of gluten-related disorderswas 0.88% (0.49–1.5), and 93.3% respondents reported adherence to gluten-free diet withouta physician-diagnosis of gluten-related disorders. Symptom comparisons between those whoreported recurrent adverse reactions to gluten and other foods showed statistically significantdifferences for bloating, constipation, and tiredness (p < 0.05). Gluten-related disorders maybe underdiagnosed in the Mexican population and most people adhering to a gluten-freediet are doing it without proper diagnostic work-up of these disorders, and probably withoutmedical/dietician advice.