Food allergy or intolerance in severe recurrent aphthous ulceration of the mouth

A study of 15 patients (11 female, 4 male) who had suffered severe oral aphthous ulcers most days for over a year tested the hypothesis that the oral ulcers may be caused by food allergy or intolerance from dietary items such as gluten, cow's milk protein, and azo dyes and preservatives. The 6 patients who responded to a dietary withdrawal did so dramatically within a week of avoiding the incriminating food, suggesting that a causal relationship exists between certain food components and oral ulcers.(wz)