About this project
The number of exploratory research studies testing the elimination of
some alimentary proteins in specific diets to treat patients with (or without) an
apparent nutritional association has highly increased in recent years.
Different social factors promote a self-prescribed GFD, including
active consumer-directed marketing by manufacturers and retail outlets, conventional
media coverage, internet information, social media networks, and claims in the
mainstream press of the therapeutic benefits of gluten avoidance. For example, nearly
50% of 910 athletes (including world-class and Olympic medallists) adhere to GFD because
they perceive it as more healthy and providing energy benefits [REF]
Therefore, with the increased use of the Internet, online information
is widely used by the general population to collect knowledge and learning about health
and alimentary-related topics. In 2016 a research questionnaire-derived
data indicated that individuals prefer as sources of health-related information
Internet, print media sources, cookbooks, disease support groups, and other patient's
experiences over medical books and even the family doctor
Social media platforms play an essential role in proper medical
education of society and signalling potential risks in alimentary fads. This study
denoted the importance that the gluten-related information has in the different
communities, the problem associated to the missinformation and desinformation, and
important the role that health organisations and stakeholders had in supporting truthful
information and countering misinformation