Tartrazine and benzoate challenge and dietary avoidance in chronic asthma

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Abstract
The usefulness of tartrazine and benzoate challenge and dietary avoidance in the management of patients with chronic asthma was studied. Double-blind ingestion-challenge tests were performed on separate days with lactose, tartrazine, benzoate and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Of the 28 subjects challenged, 1 responded to tartrazine and 1 to benzoate. Two additional subjects responded to ASA and 8 were not tested with this material because of a definite history of sensitivity. Twenty-four subjects completed 1 mo. periods of observation while first on a normal diet and then while on a tartrazine-benzoate avoidance diet. No improvement occurred during the modified diet in anyone with positive challenge-tests or in all, but 1, of those with a history of ASA idiosyncrasy; paradoxically, several of these subjects worsened during this period. Tartrazine-benzoate dietary avoidance was not of value in the management of the chronic asthmatic in this study, even among patients who responded to challenge with these substances or had an ASA idiosyncracy.