Comparison of Dietary Acid Load Score Between Celiac Patients and healthy Population

Abstract Background: Considering the presence of different complications in celiac patients and also limitations of the gluten-free diet (GFD), we intended to assess the diet quality in patients with celiac disease. In this regard, in the present study, we assessed the dietary acid load in adult celiac patients and compare it with that of the healthy population to provide more specific dietary recommendations for celiac patients. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that includes 130 celiac patients and 462 Non-celiac population. The 80-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain dietary data. Based on dietary data, the dietary acid load (DAL), Potential renal net acid load (PRAL), and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) were calculated. Results: The mean PRAL value is negative in the celiac group and it was positive in the general population. There was a significant difference in the PRAL score between celiac patients and the general population (p<0.001). The mean NEAP and DAL score were significantly lower in the celiac group compared with the healthy population (P<0.001). There were no significant differences between gluten-free diet adherents and non-adherents regarding the PRAL, NEAP, and DAL values (P>0.05). Conclusion: We showed that the patients with celiac disease had significantly less acidogenic diet compared with that of the general population. Considering the health benefits of a less acidogenic diet, following a gluten-free diet, could have added value to celiac patients and besides the elimination of symptoms, it could also prevent other complications in these patients.