Celiac Disease, Gluten-Free Diet and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the associations between celiac disease (CD), gluten-free diet (GFD), and hepatic injury, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Results Summary
The study found that lifelong adherence to a GFD improves CD symptoms but may increase the risk of hepatic steatosis and cardiometabolic risk factors. It also highlighted potential extraintestinal complications of CD itself, such as liver steatosis, and discussed therapeutic strategies for affected individuals.
Population
Individuals with celiac disease (genetically predisposed to gluten intolerance).
Effective Dosage
Not Assessed
Duration
Not Assessed
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) | increase | the symptoms of CD | genetically predisposed individuals | - | improves | #1 |
Lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) | increase | hepatic steatosis | genetically predisposed individuals | - | associated with a higher risk for | #2 |
Lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) | increase | the coexistence or emergence of other cardiometabolic risk factors | genetically predisposed individuals | - | associated with a higher risk for | #3 |
- | increase | liver steatosis | genetically predisposed individuals | - | a higher risk for | #4 |
Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten-containing food by genetically predisposed individuals. Hence, treatment of CD consists of permanent avoidance of wheat, rye, barley, and other gluten-containing foods. Lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) improves the symptoms of CD, but recent evidence suggests it is also associated with a higher risk for hepatic steatosis and the coexistence or emergence of other cardiometabolic risk factors. Moreover, a higher risk for liver steatosis is also reported by some authors as a potential extraintestinal complication of the CD itself. Recent nomenclature changes designate the association between hepatic steatosis and at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). An extended network of potentially causative factors underlying the association between MAFLD and CD, before and after dietary therapy is implemented, was recently described. The individualized treatment of these patients is less supported by evidence, with most of the current recommendations relying on empiric clinical judgment. This review focuses on the causative associations between CD and hepatic injury, either as an extraintestinal manifestation of CD or a side effect of GFD, also referring to potential therapeutic strategies for these individuals.