Mouth Ulcers (Aphthous Ulcers)
Mouth ulcers are a common reaction to foods that cause a problem and can often act as an early warning that you are eating a food that does not agree with you.
In one study, 20 individuals who had suffered from recurrent aphthous ulcers, some for more than 11 years, were given a gluten-free diet to follow. Five of these, 25%, became ulcer free and when challenge tested with gluten the ulcers returned. (3)
A study by Hay and Reade in 1984 placed 17 individuals with recurrent aphthous ulcers that had not responded to conventional therapy on an elimination diet. Of the 12 patients who followed the diet for six to eight weeks, four became symptom-free and one had marked improvement. In four of these cases a particular food was identified which, when eliminated from the diet, led to marked improvement or complete resolution of the ulcers (1). Similar results were found by Wright et al in their 1986 study (4).
Nolan et al in 1991 reported on a study involving 21 individuals with recurrent mouth ulcers. Each of them was tested for allergies to foods, food additives, flavouring agents and essential oils. Twenty of the 21 showed positive patch-test reactions to one or more of the following substances: benzoic acid, cinnamaldehyde, nickel, dichromate, fragrance mix, methyl methacrylate, parabens, sorbic acid, phosphorus, mercury, colophony, and balsam of Peru. (2)
Avoidance of the allergens which had tested positive resulted in improvement in 18 patients, during a follow-up period of six months to six years. For me this study raises the question as to whether some of the unsuccessful subjects of other studies had simply not been tested for the correct 'allergen'. (3)
(1) Hay KD, Reade PC. The use of an elimination diet in the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulceration of the oral cavity. Oral Surg 1984;57:504-507.
(2) Nolan A, Lamey P-J, Milligan KA, Forsyth A. Recurrent aphthous ulceration and food sensitivity. J Oral Pathol Med 1991;20:473-475.
(3) Wray D. Gluten-sensitive recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Dig Dis Sci 1981;26:737-740.
(4) Wright A, Ryan FP, Willingham SE, et al. Food allergy or intolerance in severe recurrent aphthous ulceration of the mouth. Br Med J 1986;292:1237-1238.
(2) Nolan A, Lamey P-J, Milligan KA, Forsyth A. Recurrent aphthous ulceration and food sensitivity. J Oral Pathol Med 1991;20:473-475.
(3) Wray D. Gluten-sensitive recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Dig Dis Sci 1981;26:737-740.
(4) Wright A, Ryan FP, Willingham SE, et al. Food allergy or intolerance in severe recurrent aphthous ulceration of the mouth. Br Med J 1986;292:1237-1238.