The condition known as Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) has puzzled researchers for years. Despite extensive research, conventional treatments for this immune-mediated disorder have not been successful in controlling its symptoms. Now, a new clinical trial has revealed groundbreaking findings that could provide relief to those suffering from EOE. The results of the study indicate that eliminating just one food — animal milk — from one’s diet may have the same positive effect as eliminating six foods. Read on to learn more about the exciting new research findings and how cutting just one food might be able to treat eosinophilic esophagitis.
Eliminating Just Animal Milk May Treat Eosinophilic Esophagitis as Effectively as Eliminating Six Foods
A groundbreaking clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that eliminating just animal milk from the diet of adults with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) can be as effective in treating the condition as eliminating six common food triggers. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, was conducted on 129 volunteers at 10 U.S. medical centers and found that the one-food elimination diet (1FED) and the six-food elimination diet (6FED) were equally effective at treating EoE. However, nearly half of the volunteers who did not respond to 1FED attained remission after treatment with the more restrictive 6FED, while more than 80% of the non-responders to 6FED achieved remission with oral steroids. The study concluded that 1FED is a reasonable first-line diet therapy option in adults with EoE, and that effective therapies are available for those who do not achieve remission after 1FED or 6FED.
Previously, it has been suggested that an elimination diet approach may be an effective treatment for EoE. This new trial is the first to compare a one-food and a six-food elimination diet for adults with EoE. It was conducted under the supervision of researchers from several US medical centers and led by Dr. Jay Liao from Stanford University’s Department of Pediatrics. The study was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The study enrolled 129 patients across 10 medical centers in the US, who had histologically confirmed EoE and had no prior dietary intervention for their condition. The participants were randomized into two groups – one receiving 1FED and one receiving 6FED. Both diets eliminated cow’s milk (the only difference between them was that 1FED also excluded eggs, fish, and wheat). After 12 weeks on their assigned diet, participants underwent endoscopy to confirm symptoms or remission of their EoE diagnoses.
The results showed that both diets were effective in controlling clinical symptoms in adults with EoE: 57% of those on the 1FED attained remission at week 12 compared to 63% on the 6FED. Of those who did not respond to either diet, 45% responded to 6FED after being given low doses of oral steroids for 4 weeks, while 82% achieved remission on oral steroids following 1FED intervention.
The findings suggest that 1FED may be an effective first-line treatment option for adult patients with EoE and is associated with fewer food restrictions than other treatments such as 6FED or steroid therapy. Moreover, those who do not respond to 1FED have good options for further treatment including 6FED or oral steroids. As such, this study provides invaluable information about how best to treat adults with EoE and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and proper dietary management to achieve positive outcomes.
The latest study on Eosinophilic Esophagitis indicates that eliminating just one dietary staple, animal milk, could be as effective in treating the disorder as eliminating six different foods. This is a groundbreaking discovery that offers a more manageable and less restrictive approach to treating this debilitating condition. Going forward, researchers and doctors should consider eliminating animal milk as the first step in treating Eosinophilic Esophagitis, instead of the traditional approach of eliminating multiple foods.
