Looking at Lichen Sclerosus Diet Studies for Hope and Guidance

Lichen Sclerosus diet studies are few and far between but our guest Erica Eberl went on the hunt so we can discuss what we can learn from the science.

Erica Eberl is a 23-year-old dietitian and LS warrior who was diagnosed less than a year ago. She has used her skills and resources to research LS and diet and shares her findings to help others.

After Erica Eberl was diagnosed with LS, she did extensive research on Lichen Sclerosus and diet and found three studies that she was able to share. One LS diet study from Italy found that avocado and soybean extract cream and a dietary strategy improved symptoms in women with mild to moderate LS, although it wasn't as effective as corticosteroids. A case-control study from Italy found that increased consumption of carotenoids (precursors to Vitamin A) was associated with less LS. Lastly, a study from Portugal found that 50% of the women with LS who had food triggers reported pork, spicy food, and fried food being the main triggers. Erica recommends seeing a dietitian or nutritionist to find out what food triggers are specific to you.

“It's up to you how factual you want to take this study, because obviously, it's not enough to actually form guidelines for, like, sclerosis, because it's only one study. But it's definitely something that you can start thinking about. And if you look at other studies that are on inflammation or autoimmune, it definitely seems to be a common trait. So definitely I'm always an advocate for eating more vegetables and fruits, so if that convinces you to go down that path and then.”

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. Is there a link between diet and Lichen Sclerosus?

2. Could pork be a trigger for Lichen Sclerosus flares?

3. What are the risks of going on an elimination diet for too long?