CD: Oats (2021)

Author and Year:
Lovik A, Gjoen AU, et al, 2009
PubMed ID:
Article Title:
Oats in a strictly gluten-free diet is associated with decreased gluten intake and increased serum bilirubin
Authors:
Løvik A, Gjøen AU, Mørkrid L, Guttormsen V, Ueland T, Lundin KEA
Journal:
European e-Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism
Year of publication:
2009
Volume:
4
Issue:
Page numbers:
e315-e320
Study Design:
Non-Controlled Trial
Risk of Bias Assessment Rating:
Negative
Inclusion Criteria:
Non-controlled trial: Patients from the out-patient clinics at Rikshospitalet and Ullevaal University Hospital who had coeliac disease (CD) diagnosed by gastroduodenal biopsies and successfully treated with gluten-free diet without oats. Cross-sectional analyses: support group members from the Norwegian Coeliac Association who were age 18 years or older, diagnosed through intestinal biopsies, gluten-free diet for the last two years and, for oats consumers, a regular intake of gluten-free oats for the last six months. Age-matched controls were recruited from hospital staff and their healthy family members.
Exclusion Criteria:
Non-controlled trial: dermatitis herpetiformis, diabetes mellitus with complications, vegetarian diets, inflammation modulating medications or organ transplants. Cross-sectional analyses: diabetes mellitus with complications, vegetarian diets, inflammation modulating medications or organ transplants.
Research Purpose:
The aims of the study were to determine the possible gluten contamination of ecologically cultivated rolled oats, and to investigate clinical, biochemical and histological tolerance to oats in well-treated patients with coeliac disease.
Blinding efforts:
None
Study Location:
Norway
Source(s) of Funding:
Not reported
Please specify names of funders:
No funder was reported. The authors were from Oslo University Hospital and Akershus University College.
Quality Criteria Checklist: Primary Research
Relevance Questions
  1. Would implementing the studied intervention or procedure (if found successful) result in improved outcomes for the patients/clients/population group? (Not Applicable for some epidemiological studies) Yes
  2. Did the authors study an outcome (dependent variable) or topic that the patients/clients/population group would care about? Yes
  3. Is the focus of the intervention or procedure (independent variable) or topic of study a common issue of concern to dieteticspractice? Yes
  4. Is the intervention or procedure feasible? (NA for some epidemiological studies) Yes
 
Validity Questions
1. Was the research question clearly stated? Yes
  1.1. Was (were) the specific intervention(s) or procedure(s) [independent variable(s)] identified? Yes
  1.2. Was (were) the outcome(s) [dependent variable(s)] clearly indicated? Yes
  1.3. Were the target population and setting specified? Yes
2. Was the selection of study subjects/patients free from bias? No
  2.1. Were inclusion/exclusion criteria specified (e.g., risk, point in disease progression, diagnostic or prognosis criteria), and with sufficient detail and without omitting criteria critical to the study? Yes
  2.2. Were criteria applied equally to all study groups? N/A
  2.3. Were health, demographics, and other characteristics of subjects described? Yes
  2.4. Were the subjects/patients a representative sample of the relevant population? No
4. Was method of handling withdrawals described? Yes
  4.1. Were follow-up methods described and the same for all groups? Yes
  4.2. Was the number, characteristics of withdrawals (i.e., dropouts, lost to follow up, attrition rate) and/or response rate (cross-sectional studies) described for each group? (Follow up goal for a strong study is 80%.) Yes
  4.3. Were all enrolled subjects/patients (in the original sample) accounted for? Yes
5. Was blinding used to prevent introduction of bias? No
  5.1. In intervention study, were subjects, clinicians/practitioners, and investigators blinded to treatment group, as appropriate? No
  5.2. Were data collectors blinded for outcomes assessment? (If outcome is measured using an objective test, such as a lab value, this criterion is assumed to be met.) No
6. Were intervention/therapeutic regimens/exposure factor or procedure and any comparison(s) described in detail? Were interveningfactors described? No
  6.1. In RCT or other intervention trial, were protocols described for all regimens studied? No
  6.3. Was the intensity and duration of the intervention or exposure factor sufficient to produce a meaningful effect? Yes
  6.4. Was the amount of exposure and, if relevant, subject/patient compliance measured? Yes
  6.5. Were co-interventions (e.g., ancillary treatments, other therapies) described? Yes
  6.6. Were extra or unplanned treatments described? Yes
7. Were outcomes clearly defined and the measurements valid and reliable? Yes
  7.1. Were primary and secondary endpoints described and relevant to the question? Yes
  7.2. Were nutrition measures appropriate to question and outcomes of concern? Yes
  7.3. Was the period of follow-up long enough for important outcome(s) to occur? Yes
  7.4. Were the observations and measurements based on standard, valid, and reliable data collection instruments/tests/procedures? ???
  7.5. Was the measurement of effect at an appropriate level of precision? Yes
  7.6. Were other factors accounted for (measured) that could affect outcomes? Yes
8. Was the statistical analysis appropriate for the study design and type of outcome indicators? No
  8.1. Were statistical analyses adequately described and the results reported appropriately? Yes
  8.2. Were correct statistical tests used and assumptions of test not violated? Yes
  8.3. Were statistics reported with levels of significance and/or confidence intervals? Yes
  8.4. Was "intent to treat" analysis of outcomes done (and as appropriate, was there an analysis of outcomes for those maximally exposed or a dose-response analysis)? No
  8.5. Were adequate adjustments made for effects of confounding factors that might have affected the outcomes (e.g., multivariate analyses)? Yes
  8.6. Was clinical significance as well as statistical significance reported? No
  8.7. If negative findings, was a power calculation reported to address type 2 error? N/A
9. Are conclusions supported by results with biases and limitations taken into consideration? No
  9.1. Is there a discussion of findings? Yes
  9.2. Are biases and study limitations identified and discussed? No
10. Is bias due to study's funding or sponsorship unlikely? No
  10.1. Were sources of funding and investigators' affiliations described? No
  10.2. Was the study free from apparent conflict of interest? Yes