Eosinophilic Esophagitis Diet

In order to decide which is the best Eosinophilic Esophagitis diet for a patient, they must first go through various allergy evaluations with an allergist. Once this has been completed, they may then discuss with their doctor which treatment and diet is best for them. Since every person is different, what may work for one person may not work for another person. Furthermore, a patient may undergo other medications in addition to choosing an Eosinophilic Esophagitis diet. It all depends on the best possible plans for the individual.

For those with Eosinophilic Esophagitis, there are three main diets that include:

1. Six Food Empiric Elimination Diet (Common Food Allergen Diet)

2. Specific Food Elimination Diet (Avoidance Diet)

3. Elemental Diet (Hypoallergenic Amino-Acid Based Formula)

Before choosing a diet, it is highly important that the patient first consult with their doctors; it is also wise to undergo an endoscopy after being on the chosen diet. This follow up procedure is extremely important because the symptoms the patient typically has may lessen dramatically, but the endoscopy will be able to determine whether or not the esophageal inflammation has indeed decreased.

Six-Food Empiric Elimination Diet

There are six foods that are the most common in allergy related diseases. These foods include eggs, milk, soy, wheat, peanuts and seafood. In a trial, 88% of children who had Eosinophilic Esophagitis and did this diet were healed. The success rate of this diet is undoubtedly a high one, however this is often a diet that many find challenging to follow. In some cases, patients also need an amino-acid based formula supplementation.

It is in the patient's best interest to consistently consult with a dietician when following this diet. It is also helpful if the patient becomes accustomed to reading ingredient labels regularly.

Specific Food Elimination Diet

This particular diet varies depending on the patient, because it is determined based on their results from food allergy testing. This testing includes the combination of RAST, atopy patch and/or skin prick testing. Once this has been completed, the allergist will decide which foods should be removed from the patient's diet.

Even small quantities of foods the patient is allergic to can cause a serious problem; therefore it is of the utmost importance that they completely avoid the foods they have tested positive to. Milk, eggs, soy, wheat, corn, peanuts, treenuts, chicken and beef are the most common foods that patients are allergic to. Milk, however, is the number one food to cause allergic reactions, and it is advised for patients to stay away from it even if they tested negative for it. It would not be surprising if the allergist told the patient not ingest any milk whether or not they were proven to be allergic to it.

Elemental Formula Diet

The elemental diet is by the far the strictest diet utilized for Eosinophilic Esophagitis patients. When an elemental diet is being used, there is absolutely no need for any other type of nutrition. This hypoallergenic formula is created from amino-acids, and is milk and soy free. Common formulas include Nutramigen AA, Neocate or Elecare.

Elemental diets usually result in success and it is actually unusual for one to not work. In some cases, children may need a G tube or nasogastrostomy (NG) tubes in addition to this Eosinophilic Esophagitis diet because the formula itself is not always enough nutrition for them.