Adult patients with food allergy adhered to dietary advice after only one-third of positive food challenge (FC) diagnostic tests, according to a study published in Clinical and Translational Allergy. Astrid Versluis, MSc, and colleagues conducted a prospective daily practice study that included adults with a positive FC. After every FC, dietary advice was given consisting of three options: 1) strict avoidance, 2) avoidance, but products with precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) allowed, and 3) small amounts allowed. Overall, patients adhered to the advised diet after 31% of the FCs. After 33 FCs, the advice was strict avoidance, whereof 82% followed a less strict diet. After 16 FCs, the advice was avoidance, but products with PAL were allowed, whereof 19% followed a less strict diet and 25% followed a stricter diet. In nine FCs with the least strict advice, 67% followed a stricter diet. The researchers recommended that healthcare professionals apply dietary adherence-enhancing strategies more frequently.
