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Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet: What Does Science Say?
What the AIP Diet Actually Involves
The AIP diet typically unfolds in three phases: elimination, reintroduction, and maintenance.
1. Elimination phase
During a period lasting 6 weeks to 6 months, all foods that could potentially trigger flare-ups or symptoms are eliminated:
- cereals and grains (with or without gluten)
- legumes
- dairy products
- eggs and egg-derived foods (such as mayonnaise)
- nuts and seeds
- nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers)
- coffee and alcohol
- seed oils
- ultra-processed foods, additives, and refined sugars
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is also avoided during this phase. Foods that remain allowed include meat, fish, vegetables (except nightshades), fruits, tubers, and certain oils.
2. Reintroduction Phase
Previously eliminated foods are reintroduced one at a time to observe potential reactions. In practice, this phase is often poorly standardized and can be difficult to follow, which may lead to prolonged restriction. Typically, the foods that are most appreciated or least likely to cause adverse reactions are reintroduced first in order to gradually expand dietary options.
3. Maintenance Phase
This long-term phase involves an individualized dietary pattern developed after identifying and eliminating foods that triggered symptoms.
Inflammation and Diet: What Science Says
Chronic low-grade inflammation plays an important role in many chronic diseases, including certain autoimmune conditions. However, growing evidence suggests that inflammation is influenced more by overall dietary patterns than by the strict elimination of entire food groups. Dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet, which are rich in fruits, vegetables, fiber, fish, unsaturated fats, and bioactive compounds (such as carotenoids, polyphenols, etc) have consistently been associated with reductions in inflammatory markers and improvements in metabolic health — an effect that has not been clearly demonstrated for the AIP diet.
What Does Science Say About the AIP Diet?
Studies examining the AIP diet are limited, generally small in size, non-randomized, and short-term. Some studies report improvements in symptoms and quality of life among individuals with inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. For example, several pilot studies suggest that the AIP diet may improve quality of life and reduce symptoms in conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, these effects are not consistent across studies, and traditional biological markers do not always show significant changes.
As a result, current evidence does not support the conclusion that the AIP diet is superior to less restrictive dietary approaches. To date, there is no strong evidence showing that the AIP diet modifies the course of autoimmune diseases.
Author
Lyna is a McGill University–trained registered dietitian and has been a member of the Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec (ODNQ) since 2020. Through several years of varied clinical experience, she has developed a strong interest in science-based nutrition that is meant to be understood and applied in everyday life. Always with her glass of mint tea, she enjoys making complex nutrition concepts clear, practical, and accessible. She is particularly interested in the development of tools and projects with a broad positive impact, supporting informed and sustainable food choices.
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