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Elimination Diets for Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Adults

October 7, 2014 7:00 am

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).