During an elimination diet, suspected food allergens are removed from the diet for a period of time. The removal of certain foods from the diet can cause a lack of nutrients, leading to a number of possible health problems, including malnutrition and failure to thrive. Malnutrition is a medical condition that results from eating too few or too many nutrients. Failure to thrive is a condition marked by abnormally low gains in length and weight during infancy and childhood.

Investigators presented two reports of children who developed failure to thrive due to allergy avoidance diets to a meeting at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Both cases involved young children (aged 13 and 18 months) with dietary sensitivities who were receiving most of their total calories from a single source that was low in protein: rice milk for one and fruit juice for the other. Both infants recovered after a period of nutritional care and supplementation.

The scientists stressed the importance of providing infants and children with sufficient calories and nutrients. Nutritional supplementation can make up for foods eliminated in an allergy avoidance diet.

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