title: Impact of gluten-free diet on cardiovascular risk factors. A retrospective analysis in a large cohort of coeliac patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concerns have been raised on whether a gluten-free diet affects the cardiovascular risk profile of coeliac patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes of multiple cardiovascular risk factors in coeliac patients evaluated before and during a gluten-free diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of the effects of 1-5 years of gluten-free diet on indicators of cardiovascular risk and on distribution in cardiovascular risk categories in 715 coeliac patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to baseline, significant increases were found in body mass index (21.4±3.4 vs. 22.5±3.5; p<0.0001), total cholesterol (171.2±37.4mg/dL vs. 181.4±35.1mg/dL; p<0.0001), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (16.5±14.9 vs. 19.5±19.2U/L; p<0.0001). Significant reductions were found in serum triglycerides (87.9±49.5 vs. 80.2±42.8mg/dL; p<0.0001) and homocysteine (16.9±9.6 vs. 13.3±8.0μmol/L; p=0.018) during gluten-free diet. The proportion of patients included in an arbitrarily defined category of "lowest cardiovascular risk profile" decreased from 58% at baseline to 47% during gluten-free diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A gluten-free diet significantly affects cardiovascular risk factors in coeliac patients, but changes do not consistently point towards worse or better risk profiles, thus suggesting that the diet is unlikely to be atherogenic.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, University and Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zanini
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzoncini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lanzarotto
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Bruno M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cesana
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villanacci
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Body mass index; Gluten free diet; Homocysteine; Insulin resistance; Lipids; γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase