A recent study shows that elimination diets, including a six-food group elimination diet (SFED) can be effective in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2014; 12: 1272-79).

This retrospective study identified 31 adults (mean age 36 years) who underwent dietary therapy between 2006-2012.  22 had a targeted elimination diet (TED) and 9 had SFED.

Key findings:

• Symptoms improved in 71% (68% TED, 78% SFED)
• Endoscopic appearance improved in 54% (53% TED, 56% SFED)
• 39% had eosinophil count drop below 15 eos/hpf (32% TED, 56% SFED).  Overall in the entire cohort, mean eosinophil count dropped from 78 eos/hpf at baseline to 43 dos/hpf.
• Among the nine responders with food reintroduction, the most common foods identified as triggers (using food reintroduction) were milk (4), egg (4), wheat (2), shellfish (1), and legumes (1).