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Background
Alkylresorcinols are a well-established biomarker for whole grain intake. There is evidence suggesting that total plasma alkylresorcinol concentration may also be used as a biomarker for gluten intake in adults.
Objective
The aim of the study was to evaluate if total alkylresorcinol concentration is a valid biomarker for gluten intake in young children.
Methods
Non-fasting plasma alkylresorcinol concentrations were analyzed by normal-phase ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in 65 children aged 18 months included in a randomized controlled trial. The intervention group was following a gluten-free diet (n=21, 31.3%), while the diet was unrestricted in the control group (n=44, 65.7%). Alkylresorcinol concentrations in the 65 children were validated against simultaneously collected 3-day food records estimating total gluten intake.
Results
Gluten intake in controls was median 5.8 grams (g)/day (inter quartile range [IQR] 2.8-9.4, max 17.1) compared to 0.0 g/day (IQR 0.0-0.0, max 0.7, p<0.001) in the intervention group. In the control group, wheat accounted for mean 85% (standard deviations [SD] 0.1) of the gluten intake. The intervention group had lower alkylresorcinol levels (median 7.2 nmol/L, IQR 4.0-10.5) compared to controls (median 269, IQR 116-505 nmol/L, p<0.001). The correlation between alkylresorcinol concentrations and gluten intake was rho=0.68 (p<0.001). Alkylresorcinol concentrations increased by 35.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9, 46.2, p<0.001) for every g/day increase of gluten intake. The Cohen’s weighted kappa between quartiles of alkylresorcinol and gluten intake was 0.73 (95% CI 0.59, 0.86).
Conclusions
Alkylresorcinol concentrations increased with gluten intake in young non-fasting children. The findings suggest that alkylresorcinol concentrations may be a useful biomarker for gluten intake in young children.