Effects of Gluten-Free Diet on Nutritional Status and Inflammation Parameters in Adult Celiac Patients

This study aimed to examine the effects of a gluten-free diet on the nutritional status, anthropometric measurements, and serum levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-15 (IL-15) in adult celiac patients, comparing them with a control group. A total of 26 celiac patients aged 18-64 years and 26 healthy individuals as the control group were included. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to determine participants' general characteristics, dietary habits, and physical activity status. Additionally, a retrospective 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire were administered to assess dietary intake. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected during the interviews. Celiac patients received education about the gluten-free diet, and follow-up assessments were conducted six weeks later. At the beginning, 53.8% of celiac patients reported always/mostly adhering to the gluten-free diet, which increased to 100.0% after six weeks. The total quality of life scores significantly increased in celiac patients after six weeks. Initial serum IL-15 levels were similar between celiac and control groups, whereas serum IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in celiac patients compared to the control group.