Blood type diet: Does it work?

Is there any merit to the blood type diet?

- Linda / Illinois

Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Some research suggests that people who have certain blood types may develop specific patterns of food allergies. However, there's no scientific evidence to support the so-called "blood type diet," in which different diets are recommended based on a person's blood type. At this time, eating or avoiding certain foods according to your blood type isn't thought to have any favorable influence on weight or overall health. In fact, a "blood type diet" may not meet your nutritional needs.