Iron Deficiency in Pediatric Celiac Disease: Diet vs. Iron Supplementation Trial

This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial designed to evaluate the necessity of iron supplementation in children newly diagnosed with celiac disease and iron deficiency without anemia. The study will compare two treatment strategies: Gluten-Free Diet Alone Gluten-Free Diet + Iron Supplementation The primary objective is to determine whether a gluten-free diet alone is sufficient to restore ferritin levels or if iron supplementation provides a significant additional benefit. Study Design \& Methods Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Ferritin levels will be monitored at baseline, 4 months, and 12 months to assess improvements. The study will also evaluate patient adherence to a gluten-free diet and iron supplementation, quality of life, as well as the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects related to iron supplement use. This study is expected to provide evidence-based guidance for the management of iron deficiency in pediatric celiac disease, addressing a gap in current clinical recommendations.