The autoimmune paleo diet (AIP) also known as the autoimmune protocol diet is an extremely popular diet these days for autoimmune disease but there has never been any studies done to evaluate if it actually works.  Although testimonials should be taken into account, and there are many all over the internet,  the ultimate test for validity is a clinical trial.

As of August 29th, 2017, we now have a study that looked at this diet and how effective it was for autoimmune disease.  The paper is entitled, “Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.”  Dr. Konijeti is the lead author and it was published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Let’s dig into the study and see what they came up with.  The study included 18 adults but three of them withdrew because they couldn’t commit to the diet so there were only 15 participants.  9 of them had Crohn’s disease and 6 had ulcerative colitis.  Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are autoimmune inflammatory bowel diseases.

What causes these diseases?  The authors note that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are due to genetic factors, gut dysbiosis, dietary factors, environmental exposures, and immune system dysregulation.  This is mostly true for all types of autoimmune diseases but I would also include infections in this list such as viruses and bacteria.

To be more specific regarding dietary factors that increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, it is noted that a typical Western diet high in refined carbohydrates, omega-6 fatty acids, saturated fat, low in fiber, vitamins, and nutrient-dense foods are part of the problem.

What is the autoimmune paleo diet (AIP)?

The autoimmune protocol diet is also known as the autoimmune paleo diet since it is an offshoot of the classic paleo diet.  The following foods are eliminated from this diet:

* Gluten-containing grains

* Gluten-free grains

* Dairy

* Eggs

* Nuts

* Seeds

* Refined carbohydrates and sugar

* Legumes

* Nightshades

* Oils

* Food additives

* Coffee

* Alcohol

Why are these particular items avoided in the autoimmune paleo diet?

The goal is to remove any foods that tend to be inflammatory in nature and can lead to dysbiosis.  Approximately 70% of the immune system is in the gut and the microbiota have key connections with the immune system so it makes sense to reduce inflammatory stress in this area as much as possible.

The autoimmune paleo diet consists of the following:

* Fruit

* Vegetables

* Lean meats

* Fish

* Healthy Fats

* Coconut

* Sweet potatoes

A few additional items that are emphasized are fermented foods to help maintain a healthy microbiota and bone broth for intestinal healing and nutrient density.

How did the subjects eat in this study?

All subjects followed a 6-week elimination phase and then a 5-week maintenance phase where no foods could be reintroduced.  The participants had a lot of support including a private Facebook page where they could interact with each other and share recipes and ideas.

Additionally, they worked with a health coach and a registered dietician.  The subjects were educated on proper sleep hygiene, stress management, exercise instruction, grocery shopping and food preparation including how to make bone broth and the benefits of fermented foods.  Education against the use of NSAIDs was also pro...