The elimination/challenge diet

Elimination diets can be both a diagnostic tool and a therapeutic intervention for people with a suspected food sensitivity or allergy. They are clinically relevant not only for patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders but also for those with conditions where symptoms are refractory and a diagnosis is elusive. Elimination diets can help a physician make a diagnosis or identify an underlying cause of symptoms. The physician and team treating the patient can then use that information to recommend appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes as well as judicious drug therapy. This article describes the elimination/challenge diet approach and explains the rationale for undertaking it.