Incidence of malnutrition in people with celiac disease in Ecuador. A diagnostic study

Celiac disease (CD) is an enteropathy caused by an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten exposure in genetically susceptible individuals. In CD patients, autoantibodies attack proteins in the intestinal tissues and create damage to the intestinal villi resulting in malabsorption of nutrients and maldigestion. Undiagnosed and untreated CD can lead to severe malabsorption and malnutrition. A diagnostic epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of malnutrition in adults and children with CD in Ecuador. In total, 35 CD patients were eligible and body mass index (BMI) was determined. The study cohort was separated into 3 age groups and BMI was compared with indicators of undernutrition reported in the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Ecuador. The participants in the study were interviewed to determine the degree of information and awareness of the importance of the gluten-free diet for their health status. We detected an increased trend in the incidence of malnutrition in celiac disease patients at pediatric ages, and increased awareness of the importance of the gluten-free diet in adults. Nutritional evaluation of CD patients is essential in pediatric ages to achieve a more effective management of these patients and to avoid the consequences of malnutrition in early stages of life.