Dietary composition of adult eosinophilic esophagitis patients is related to disease severity

Abstract

Background: In addition to the elimination diet, dietary composition may influence disease severity in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) through modulation of the immune response.

Aim: To explore the immunomodulatory role of nutrition before and during elimination diet in adult EoE patients.

Methods: Nutritional intake was assessed in 39 Dutch adult EoE patients participating in the Supplemental Elemental Trial (Dutch trial registry NL6014, NTR6778) using 3-day food diaries. In this randomized controlled trial, diagnosed patients received either a four-food elimination diet alone (FFED) or FFED with addition of an amino acid-based formula for 6 weeks. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess associations between the intake of nutrients and food groups per 1000 kCal and peak eosinophil count/high power field (PEC), both at baseline and after 6 weeks.

Results: At baseline, we found a statistically significant negative (thus favorable) relationship between the intake of protein, total fat, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin B12, folate, and milk products and PEC (p < .05), while calcium (p = .058) and full-fat cheese/curd (p = .056) were borderline (favorably) significant. In contrast, total carbohydrates, prepacked fruit juice, and white bread were significantly positively (unfavorable) related to PEC (p < .05), while ultra-processed meals (p = .059) were borderline (unfavorably) significant. After dietary intervention, coffee/tea were significantly negatively (favorably) related to PEC, hummus/legumes were significantly positively (unfavorably) related with PEC, while peanuts were borderline significantly positively related (p = .058).

Conclusion: Dietary composition may be related to inflammation in adult EoE patients. High-quality and anti-inflammatory diets may be a promising adjuvant therapy in the dietary management of EoE.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory diet; disease severity; eosinophilic esophagitis; foods; immunomodulation; inflammation; nutrients.