Dietary implications: Salicylic acid and ASA-intolerance

Abstract

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) may cause severe respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal symptoms in hypersensitive patients. Patients with ASA-intolerance are often advised to avoid also natural salicylic acid in foods, which - due to their wide occurrence - leads to uncertainty and risk of malnutrition. Despite years of research, the evidence for a relevance of dietary salicylic acid in the pathogenesis of ASA-intolerance is still pending. In order to counteract restrictive elimination diets, no recommendation for salicylate reduction should be given.The nutritional therapy for ASA-intolerance should be based on an anti-inflammatory diet with vegetables and fruits, an optimal fluid supply, and a balanced ratio of long-chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids.The supply of minerals, trace elements, phytochemicals, and antioxidants should be ensured.