Gluten-Free Diet in Children May Do More Harm than Good

According to new study published in Journal of Pediatrics a gluten-free diet can do more harm than good for kids who doesn't suffer from celiac disease.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that can happen in genetically predisposed patients where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to influence 1 in 100 people globally. Two and one-half million Americans are undiagnosed and are at risk for long-term health complications.

Survey done lately of more than 1,500 adults in the U.S. discovered that the most common reason for going gluten-free were "no reason" and the notion that it seems like a healthier choice.

“The increasing popularity of the GFD [gluten-free diet] has important implications for children. Parents sometimes place their children on a GFD in the belief that it relieves symptoms, can prevent CD [celiac disease], or is a healthy alternative without previous testing for CD or consultation with a dietitian,” “… There is no evidence that processed gluten-free foods are healthier than their gluten-containing counterparts, nor have there been proven health or nutritional benefits of a GFD, except as indicated previously in this commentary.” according to the Journal commentary.

"If your child has Celiac Disease, then gluten is a big deal," says Dr. Richard Besser, chief medical editor for ABC News. "But otherwise, it's not." "Their gluten free product has more salt, more fat, and less protein than the one with gluten," Dr. Besser said.

Critics of a gluten-free diet tells that it has no evidence of health benefits in people without a gluten sensitivity, and that it may bring nutritional deficiencies for many people who cut it out of their daily food consumption.

Many of the replacement foods for gluten-free diets lack nuturitions and are less likely to be fortified with vitamins and minerals. "They tend to be very processed, higher in fat and higher in sugar, and surprisingly to a lot of people they're actually higher in carbohydrates," Jennifer Willoughby, pediatric dietician at Cleveland Clinic Children's. , who was not involved in the paper, explained. She also added "They lose out on a lot of B vitamins, a lot of iron, and fiber if the diet is not followed in a proper way."