Research Mentor Name

Suraj Suresh, M.D.

Research Mentor Email Address

ssuresh1@hfhs.org

Institution / Department

Henry Ford Health Division of Gastroenterology

Document Type

Research Abstract

Research Type

clinicalresearch

Graduate Level Research

no

Abstract

Title: Impact of Dietician Counseling on Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease

Background: Dietician counseling is routinely recommended for newly diagnosed celiac disease (CD), yet its measurable impact is not well defined. This study examined whether early dietician involvement improves clinical symptoms or serologic outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed adults with biopsy-confirmed CD at a single center from 2020–2024. Demographics, symptoms, and laboratory data were collected by chart review with ≥6 months of follow-up. Patients who met with a dietician formed the dietician group; all others were assigned to the non-dietician group. Fisher's Exact tests evaluated abdominal pain and diarrhea at follow-up, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum testing compared changes in tTG-IgA.

Results: Ninety-nine patients met inclusion criteria; 29% received dietician counseling. In the dietician group, abdominal pain declined from 59% to 21% and diarrhea from 41% to 14%. Similar improvement occurred in the non-dietician group (abdominal pain 50% to 12%, diarrhea 29% to 11%). Dietician involvement was not significantly associated with improvement in abdominal pain (p=0.475) or diarrhea (p=0.384). Reductions in tTG-IgA were comparable (dietician −26 IU/mL vs non-dietician −33 IU/mL; p=1.00). Hemoglobin levels remained stable, and micronutrient profiles improved overall, with slightly greater gains in vitamin D, folate, and iron among dietician-treated patients.

Conclusion: Early dietician counseling was not associated with significant short-term clinical or serologic benefits in CD. Broad access to nutritional resources and multidisciplinary care may support management regardless of counseling status. Larger, long-term studies should evaluate sustained symptom control, adherence, and quality of life.

Disciplines

Allergy and Immunology | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition | Gastroenterology | Health Services Research | Immune System Diseases | Medicine and Health Sciences

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