Effects of suspected foodstuff challenging agents in the etiology of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Two hundred eighteen professional students were surveyed to uncover any association of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) with a history of allergic diathesis. No significant relationship was uncovered. From this population approximately equal numbers of RAS-positive and RAS-negative subjects were challenged with suspected foodstuff agents thought to have a potential causative role in occurrence of the disease. The results failed to document any causative effect with regard to tomatoes, strawberries, or walnuts.