Resumen de Awareness of gluten-free diet among the general public in Saudi Arabia

Noara Alhusseini, Maryam Omar Bajaber, Shama Mohammed Shabi, Suaad Salah Bin Saeedu, Ragad Abdul Hak Aljejakli, Ebtehal Mohammed Alsharimi, Alaa Alabadi Bierman

• Introduction: Gluten is the combination of gliadin and glutenin within a fraction of wheat. Its fraction is used in food processing because of its unique structure-building attributes. The gluten in wheat flour forms a three-dimensional protein network when mixed and hydrated properly. Even those without a diagnosis of an illness linked to gluten are beginning to follow a GFD.

  Methodology: This study aimed to examine the knowledge and use of the gluten-free diet among the general population of Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study included participants 18 years and older. Frequencies and percentages were used for descriptive data.

  Results: A total of 793 were included in the study. More than half of the participants knew what gluten and gluten-free diet are. Females demonstrated a greater awareness of gluten-free diet and their use (%). Other questions on the prevalence of gluten-free diet use showed that 5% follow it rigorously, while 10.3% follow it with lapses.

  Conclusion: The majority of the respondents were aware of the gluten diet; mostly, the gluten-free diet was followed due to health-related lifestyles. Future research on a broader scale in SA is highly needed to better understand the Saudi population.