Identification of the conditions that complementary medicine practitioners recommend gluten free diets for in Australia
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Advances in Integrative Medicine, 2019, 6 (2), pp. 87 - 91
- Issue Date:
- 2019-05-01
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© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Introduction: A gluten free diet (GFD) is indicated for the medical management of coeliac disease as well as gluten ataxia, dermatitis herpetiformis, and wheat allergy. Complementary medicine practitioners (CMPs) recommend removing gluten from the diet, but it is not known what symptoms or conditions they recommend gluten free diets for. The aim of this study is to describe for what conditions Australian naturopaths, Western herbalists and nutritionists (non-dietetic) recommend a gluten free diet. Methods: This was a sub-group analysis nested within a cross-sectional survey of practitioners recruited through the PRACI practice-based research network and relevant professional associations. A 40-item survey collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, practice and professional characteristics and specific questions on gluten related disorders between February and August 2017. Data was described using frequencies and percentages along with one-way ANOVA to determine group differences. Results: One hundred and forty-five complementary practitioners responded to the survey. The gastrointestinal conditions most frequently prescribed a GFD for were non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (99%), medically diagnosed coeliac disease (95.2%), inflammatory bowel disease (73.1%) and irritable bowel syndrome (60%). The most frequently prescribed GFDs for extra-intestinal conditions were skin conditions (60%), children with developmental disorders (53.1%), mental health conditions (46.2%) and weight management. Discussion: Results suggest that given the broad application of GFDs by CMPs, there may be therapeutic benefits for conditions other than known gluten related disorders. However, in the absence of appropriate investigations for gluten related disorders, the recommendation and positive response to a GFD may be inadvertently treating an undiagnosed gluten related disorder. In addition, a GFD may also be inadvertently managing other unknown intolerances that require different clinical management. Conclusion: This research highlights the need for further investigation into the potential benefits resulting from prescribing GFDs for conditions where there is no established evidence for the exclusion of dietary gluten.
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