Evaluation of the effect of a gluten-free diet and mediterranean diet nutrition education on clinical, biochemical findings and quality of life in lightweight/obese individuals

This research; It determines the effect of gluten-free diet and Mediterranean diet nutrition education on anthropometric measurements, clinical, biochemical findings and quality of life in overweight/obese individuals. Individuals with BMI>25 kg/m2 and without any chronic disease other than blood pressure, who applied to Trabzon Kanuni Training and Research Hospital Obesity Center, were randomly assigned to the gluten-free diet group (n = 32) or the Mediterranean diet group (n = 36). Clinical findings, anthropometric measurements, biochemical findings, food consumption frequency, SF-36 and Mediterranean diet adherence scale were applied to the individuals who were given 6-week nutrition education, and 3-day food records were taken in the middle of the study. Findings were evaluated with SPSS, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Body weight decreased from 90.1 kg to 87.6 kg in individuals following a gluten-free diet (p<0.001); In individuals following the Mediterranean diet, the weight decreased from 96.1 kg to 93.3 kg (p<0.001), but there was no difference between the two diet practices (p>0.05). No difference was detected in anthropometric measurements except for neck circumference (p>0.05). The Mediterranean scale score of the Mediterranean diet group increased from 7.0±1.8 to 8.3±1.6 (p=0.001); No increase was detected in the gluten-free diet group (p>0.05). While the gluten-free diet group has higher fat, cholesterol and vitamin B12 levels than the Mediterranean diet group; The Mediterranean diet group has higher carbohydrate, fiber, vitamin A, carotene, vitamin B6, sodium, potassium and magnesium levels than the gluten-free diet group (p<0.05). In those who follow a gluten-free diet, hair loss, headache, gas complaints, bloating, indifference to the environment, fatigue, and decrease in joint pain; A decrease in hair loss, gas complaints, bloating, and joint pain was found in those following the Mediterranean diet (p<0.05). In the gluten-free diet group, ALT and B12 increased compared to baseline; In the Mediterranean diet group, ALT, AST, ferritin and B12 increased and cholesterol decreased (p<0.05). The effects of gluten-free and Mediterranean diets on clinical, biochemical findings and quality of life are similar, but the long-term effects of gluten-free diet treatment should be carefully monitored.