Awareness of gluten-free diet among the general public in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Gluten is the combination of gliadin and glutenin within a fraction of wheat. Its fraction is used in food processing because of its unique structure-building attributes. The gluten in wheat flour forms a three-dimensional protein network when mixed and hydrated properly. Even those with-out a diagnosis of an illness linked to gluten are beginning to follow a GFD. Methodology: This study aimed to examine the knowl-edge and use of the gluten-free diet among the general pop-ulation of Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study included participants 18 years and older. Frequencies and percentages were used for descriptive data. Results: A total of 793 were included in the study. More than half of the participants knew what gluten and gluten -free diet are. Females demonstrated a greater awareness of gluten-free diet and their use (%). Other questions on the prevalence of gluten-free diet use showed that 5% follow it rigorously, while 10.3% follow it with lapses. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents were aware of the gluten diet; mostly, the gluten-free diet was followed due to health-related lifestyles. Future research on a broader scale in SA is highly needed to better understand the Saudi population.