The number of Americans who are on a gluten-free diet is gradually increasing. A new study further revealed that it has tripled for the past five years. But researchers are still uncertain of its direct effect on one's health and overall well-being.
Americans On Gluten-free Diet Increasing Steadily
Dr. Hyunseok Kim, a resident in internal medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, and his colleagues have analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), according to Live Science. These yearly surveys are conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The participants in the survey were asked if they had been diagnosed with celiac disease. They also had to answer whether they are on a gluten-free diet.
Kim and his colleagues found out that the prevalence of celiac disease in Americans from 2009-2014 have been steady at around 0.7 percent. That's around 1.76 million people. On the other hand, those who are on a gluten-free diet have risen from 0.52 to 1.69 percent of the population. The researchers estimate it at 2.7 million that includes adults and children who are at least 6 years old.
These people are without celiac disease. They actually don't need to avoid gluten. Despte his, however, they adhere to that kind of diet.
Is Gluten-free Diet Healthy Or Trendy?
Kim said that people believe that gluten-free is trendy and healthier. The continued boost may also be contributed to easier access and the cheaper price in most supermarkets.
Dr. Daphne Miller from University of California, San Francisco explained why supporters go for the diet.
"Part of what may be driving [a] gluten-free diet trend is simply a belief, fueled by marketing and media, that these foods are healthier." She wrote this in a commentary published with the report in JAMA Internal Medicine on September 6, according to Reuters.
People may think that going gluten-free reduces the amount of processed food in their diet. She also added that some people on a gluten-free diet have found health benefits but others have not. The improvement of one's well-being may not entirely be accounted to the elimination of gluten. There could be other factors.
More Research Should Be Done
Miller suggested that more study should be conducted to understand how this diet affects a variety of symptoms, cognition and health.
Kim shared the same sentiment. He admitted that their current findings only offer a snapshot. Further research should be done to evaluate the effect of a gluten-free diet to the general population. The other characteristics of the people following this diet should also be investigated.
