Praktické lekárnictvo 3/2019
Gluten-free foods in pharmacy practice
Health problems related to dietary gluten intolerance have not only been subject of intensive scientific and professional interest, but it has also attracted interest of the general public. The consumption of gluten in people intolerant to gluten leads to diseases that have different pathogenesis, variable symptomatology and severity. The gluten-free diet is an essential therapeutic approach in these people. Dietetic gluten-free foods are also available in pharmacies in Slovakia and they are covered by health insurance based on set limits. The article provides a basic insight into the problem of gluten and gluten-related disorders. It deals with legislative requirements for gluten-free foods and foods intended for specific medical purposes, including gluten-free diet. The article also summarizes possibilities of the pharmacists in providing healthcare for patients with gluten intolerance and it also points to their wider possibilities in formation of nutritional health-related behavior in the general public.
Keywords: gluten, gluten-free diet, gluten intolerance, gluten-free foods, dietetic foods, pharmacist
