Dietary Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Man Versus Food or Food Versus Man?

Abstract

An alternative to pharmacologic management of eosinophilic esophagitis, elimination of food antigens for diet therapy is an effective first-line treatment strategy to induce and maintain symptomatic, histologic, and endoscopic disease remission. The 3 dietary strategies for eosinophilic esophagitis include elemental diet, empiric elimination diet, and targeted elimination diet. We review the studies supporting various diet therapy strategies, practical considerations and challenges for applying an elimination diet, and novel testing to identify triggers and optimize food reintroduction.

Keywords: Diet elimination; Eosinophilic esophagitis; Food antigens; Treatment.