"Economic Burden Of A Gluten-free Diet".pdf

Coeliac disease is a chronic inflammatory small intestinal disease caused by an immune response to gluten, affecting 1% of the population. The only therapy is a gluten-free diet, which can be expensive. A study evaluated the economic burden of adhering to a gluten-free diet by comparing prices of gluten-free products to their wheat-based counterparts in different stores and regions. Results showed that gluten-free products were more expensive, with bread and pasta being twice as expensive as their wheat-based counterparts. Availability of gluten-free products varied, with health food stores and online sites carrying the largest selection. The study found that the cost of gluten-free products was affected more by shopping venue than geographic location, with health food stores and online sites being the most expensive. Overall, the study demonstrated that gluten-free foods have poor availability and are more expensive than their gluten-containing counterparts.