AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Original Article
Oct 19, 2026 23 18

Dietary Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Algerian Children with Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study from a North African Tertiary Institution

Auda Ameur 1 * ,
Charef Latroch 1,
Hiba Naas 2,
Karim Bouziane Nedjadi 1,
Véronique Desvignes 3
1 Department of Pediatrics B Amilcar Cabral, University Hospital Center of Oran, University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Faculty of Medicine, Oran, Algeria2 Laboratory of Environment, Natural Plant Substances and Food Technology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Ahmed Zabana University - Relizane, Relizane, Algeria 3 French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics, Clermont Ferrand University 1, Auvergnes, France* Corresponding Author
Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, 2(3), 2026, aubm028, https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/19640
Publication date: Oct 19, 2026
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ABSTRACT

Background: Celiac disease is a chronic immune-mediated enteropathy caused by gluten exposure in genetically susceptible individuals, for which lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet remains the only validated treatment. Data on dietary adherence and health-related quality of life in North African pediatric populations remain limited. This study aimed to assess GFD adherence, HRQoL, and factors associated with poor adherence among Algerian children with CD.
Methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted in the Pediatric Department B of the University Hospital Center of Oran, Algeria, between January 2022 and June 2024. Children aged 2–16 years with confirmed CD (2020 ESPGHAN diagnostic criteria) were consecutively enrolled and prospectively followed at approximately three-month intervals (mean follow-up 18 ± 6 months). GFD adherence was assessed through structured dietary interviews; nutritional status was evaluated clinically and by laboratory assays (hemoglobin, ferritin, vitamin D); HRQoL was measured using the PedsQL and PROMIS pediatric measures. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with poor adherence, with odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and their 95% confidence intervals.
Results: Of 130 children assessed, 100 were included (mean age, 8.7 ± 3.4 years); 38% were classified as adherent and 62% as non-adherent. Children subsequently classified as non- adherent had lower baseline global quality-of-life scores than adherent children (59.7 ± 12.8 versus 78.4 ± 9.6; p < 0.001). Anxiety scores were higher in the non-adherent group among 84 children with available scores (57.2 ± 9.3 versus 46.8 ± 7.8; p < 0.001). Limited access to gluten-free products (adjusted odds ratio, 4.34; 95% confidence interval, 2.00–9.40), economic difficulties (3.70; 1.80–7.60), and psychological stress (2.60; 1.20–5.40) were associated with non-adherence. Nutritional abnormalities were present at enrollment in 72% of children and were associated with lower baseline quality-of-life scores (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: GFD adherence is suboptimal among Algerian children with CD and is associated with socioeconomic and psychosocial barriers and reduced HRQoL. Multidisciplinary management addressing nutritional, socioeconomic, and psychological factors is warranted. Given the observational design, the associations identified should not be interpreted as causal; larger multicenter longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.

KEYWORDS

Celiac Disease Dietary Adherence Gluten-Free Diet Nutritional Deficiencies Quality of Life Algeria

CITATION (Vancouver)

Ameur A, Latroch C, Naas H, Bouziane Nedjadi K, Desvignes V. Dietary Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Algerian Children with Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study from a North African Tertiary Institution. Australian Journal of Biomedical Research. 2026;2(3):aubm028. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/19640
APA
Ameur, A., Latroch, C., Naas, H., Bouziane Nedjadi, K., & Desvignes, V. (2026). Dietary Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Algerian Children with Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study from a North African Tertiary Institution. Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, 2(3), aubm028. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/19640
Harvard
Ameur, A., Latroch, C., Naas, H., Bouziane Nedjadi, K., and Desvignes, V. (2026). Dietary Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Algerian Children with Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study from a North African Tertiary Institution. Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, 2(3), aubm028. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/19640
AMA
Ameur A, Latroch C, Naas H, Bouziane Nedjadi K, Desvignes V. Dietary Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Algerian Children with Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study from a North African Tertiary Institution. Australian Journal of Biomedical Research. 2026;2(3), aubm028. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/19640
Chicago
Ameur, Auda, Charef Latroch, Hiba Naas, Karim Bouziane Nedjadi, and Véronique Desvignes. "Dietary Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Algerian Children with Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study from a North African Tertiary Institution". Australian Journal of Biomedical Research 2026 2 no. 3 (2026): aubm028. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/19640
MLA
Ameur, Auda et al. "Dietary Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Algerian Children with Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study from a North African Tertiary Institution". Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, vol. 2, no. 3, 2026, aubm028. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/19640

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