Food insecurity and other barriers to adherence to a gluten-free diet in individuals with coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity in the Netherlands: a mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of food insecurity among individuals with coeliac disease (CeD) and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) in the Netherlands and explore its association with diet quality and other barriers to adherence to a gluten-free diet.

DESIGN

Mixed-method design comprising a survey and semistructured interviews.

SETTING

An online survey was distributed through social media accounts and the newsletter of the Dutch Association for Celiac Disease. Community-dwelling patients were surveyed and interviewed between June and November 2023.

PARTICIPANTS AND OUTCOME MEASURES

In total 548 adults with CeD and NCGS in the Netherlands who adhered to a gluten-free diet completed the survey including questions related to demographics, household food insecurity, financial stress and diet quality. Regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between food insecurity and diet quality, and between food insecurity and perceived difficulty of gluten-free eating and cooking. Additionally, semistructured interviews with eight food insecure adults with CeD were conducted.

RESULTS

The prevalence of food insecurity was 23.2%, with 10.4% reporting very low food security. Very low food insecurity was associated with poorer diet quality (β=-5.5; 95% CI=-9.2 to -1.9; p=0.003). Food insecurity was associated with heightened perceived barriers across multiple themes. In age, income and education adjusted models, compared with food secure participants, low food secure participants were more likely to experience difficulty regarding skills (OR=2.5; 95% CI=1.5 to 4.3; p≤0.001), social circumstances (OR=2.6; 95% CI=1.1 to 6.4; p=0.038), resources (OR=2.5; 95% CI=1.5 to 4.4; p=0.001) and naturally gluten-free products (OR=1.8; 95% CI=1.0 to 3.1; p=0.045) in gluten-free eating and cooking. Participants with very low food security were more likely to experience difficulty regarding skills (OR=4.4; 95% CI=2.4 to 8.1; p≤0.001) and resources (OR=4.2; 95% CI=2.3 to 7.8; p<0.001) in gluten-free eating and cooking. The qualitative analysis provided a deeper understanding of these challenges, including employed strategies to manage costs and insights into the mental burden associated with adhering to a gluten-free diet.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that food insecurity is prevalent among Dutch people with CeD and NCGS, with potential impact on diet quality and adherence to a gluten-free diet. It further provided insight into perceived barriers to adhering to a gluten-free diet among this target population. These challenges should be taken into account by clinicians and policy makers.