PD920 - ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED NUTRITIONAL STATUS PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED CELIAC DISEASE BY AGE GROUP

PD920

ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED NUTRITIONAL STATUS PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED CELIAC DISEASE BY AGE GROUP

K. Kondej-Muszyńska^1,*, J. Martowska¹, A. Truchel¹, K. Trochimczyk¹, D. Lebensztejn²

¹University Children Clinical Hospital in Białystok, ²Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland

Rationale: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, associated with nutritional deficiencies that may cause growth retardation in children. The study aimed to evaluate selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters in children with newly diagnosed celiac disease across age groups.

Methods: A retrospective analysis included 80 children with newly diagnosed celiac disease. The following age groups were distinguished: Group I (1–6 years), Group II (7–12 years), and Group III (13–17 years). Anthropometric parameters (weight, height, BMI), antibody levels (anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA [anti-tTGA IgA]) at diagnosis and after one year of a gluten-free diet, and biochemical parameters at diagnosis (hemoglobin [Hb], mean corpuscular volume [MCV], ferritin, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D) were compared. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Significant differences between groups were found for MCV (p = 0.005), Hb (p = 0.014), and vitamin D3 (p = 0.019). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in ferritin, vitamin B12, or folic acid levels prior to treatment with a gluten-free diet. Group I had the lowest mean values of Hb, MCV, and ferritin levels.

At diagnosis, no statistically significant differences were found between groups in percentile values of body weight, height, or BMI (p > 0.05). After one year of a gluten-free diet, a significant decrease in anti-tTGA IgA levels (p < 0.001) and significant increases in body weight (p < 0.001), height (p < 0.001), and BMI (p < 0.001) were observed in all groups.

Conclusion: The youngest patients most often had low hematological parameters at diagnosis. After one year of treatment, a gluten-free diet displayed improvement in anthropometric and biochemical parameters across all age groups in children with celiac disease.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared