Table 1.
General characteristics and conditions self-reported by 1203 apparently healthy adults.
| Variables | Group 1 (n = 102) |
Group 2 (n = 1101) |
p-Value * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 39.1 ± 17.5 | 35.2 ± 16.1 | 0.033 |
| Female, n (%) | 78 (76.5) | 528 (48) | 0.0001 |
| Education | 0.124 | ||
| <8 years, n (%) | 10 (9.8) | 116 (10.3) | |
| ≥8–<12 years, n (%) | 44 (43.1) | 570 (51.8) | |
| ≥12 years, n (%) | 48 (47.1) | 401 (36.4) | |
| Diagnoses reported | |||
| Gastrointestinal diagnosis †,**, n (%) | 75 (73.5) | 320 (29.0) | 0.0001 |
| Extraintestinal diagnosis ††, n (%) | 45 (44.1) | 235 (21.3) | 0.0001 |
| Gluten-free diet, n (%) | 76 (74.5) | 122 (11.0) | 0.001 |
Data are shown as frequency (percentage) except for age (mean ± SD). * p-value obtained by comparison of groups using the independent t-test. ** one person reported a gastrointestinal and an extraintestinal diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer. † defined as self-reports of one or more gastrointestinal conditions/symptoms (including irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, chronic diarrhea and gastrointestinal cancer). †† defined as reporting one or more extraintestinal symptoms, including allergies, autoimmune diseases, eating disorder and mood disorders.