Are diet quality and dietary acid load associated with health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with celiac disease?

Purpose This study aims to examine the dietary compliance of children and adolescents with celiac disease (CD) and their diet quality (DQ) and dietary acid load (DAL) and to determine the relationship of these dietary parameters with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Design/methodology/approach Ninety-one children and adolescents with CD and 144 healthy peers were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements were conducted by researchers. DQ and DAL were calculated from participants' 24-h dietary recall records. HRQoL was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and compliance with a gluten-free diet (GFD) was obtained using the GFD score. Data was collected through a face-to-face questionnaire. Findings Of celiac patients, 53.1% were strictly compatible with the GFD, and 35.8% were non-compliant with the diet. The DQ scores of participants with CD were higher than their healthy peers, and the DAL scores were lower (p < 0.01). Finally, no relationship was found between the DQ and DAL with HRQoL scores in celiac patients (p > 0.05). However, better dietary compliance with the GFD was associated with improved HRQoL (p < 0.05). Practical implications While DQ and DAL had no association with HRQoL, better dietary compliance improved the HRQoL of celiac patients. This may help develop solutions to the problems experienced by celiac patients, thereby improving the management of CD. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the association of DQ and DAL with HRQoL in children with CD.