Can you do a simple test for Food Intolerance?
Can you do a simple test for Food Intolerance?
The Consumer Show on RTE on Wednesday 1st April did a feature on a particular type of Food Intolerance testing which can now be done in many pharmacies around the country. The tests are quite expensive but is the test scientific and reliable?
The testing measures the level of IgG antibodies in the blood. The people advocating these tests advise that a high level of these IgG antibodies indicate an intolerance to the food, whereas the medical and scientific community say that it is “an index of exposure, not an index of abnormal sensitivity”. In other words if you eat an egg, you will have IgG antibodies present in your blood for egg. If you have a high level of antibodies for egg in your blood the testers would say you are intolerant to egg, the scientists would say you’ve eaten egg before.
The researcher on the show did one of these tests and although she had no symptoms came up as intolerant to egg white and wheat. Prof. Hourihane, a well known paediatric allergy consultant was asked about this and he explained how everyone has IgG antibodies present for all the foods they eat and how these tests are bound to throw up something.
The show concluded that the type of testing used doesn’t have a scientific basis and that consumers should be aware of this.
My own view is the same, I heard Dr. Joe Fitzgibbon speak at last year’s Allergy Expo in Dublin and one of his key messages was there is no simple test for food intolerance. It cannot be diagnosed by a blood test or skin prick test. He explained that some intolerances can only be diagnosed by the symptoms. He used the example of a patient with an allergy to potatoes, which would be extremely rare, but the symptoms being present as a result of eating the food was enough to diagnose. The way to test for a food intolerance is by elimination of the food completely and reintroduction to see if symptoms return.
It is not advisable to do this (especially with children) without advice from a dietitian or medical professional.
I think that there is confusion around the terminology for allergies and intolerances and because of the huge increase in people removing foods from their diet for health reasons, it has opened up a huge market for this kind of testing. These tests are cashing in on this growing trend. I have heard of people going gluten free to lose weight, or dairy free due to feeling bloated, they’ll give it a go. Of course a test which will give an answer one way or another – you are intolerant to x, y or z is an attractive option. I would love to have been given a more definitive answer when we brought my son to be diagnosed. He tested negative for allergies so we were told that it was ‘most likely’ the case that he had a cow’s milk protein intolerance (now called non-IgE mediated cow’s milk protein allergy). Being told it was was ‘most likely’ meant that there was always a seed of doubt. When your child is very sick and then is much better as a result of taking them off a food group, it should be proof enough, but it’s hard to accept that sometimes. There is often the feeling that you are making it up etc., especially when you have to explain to someone about the intolerance and they are skeptical. However, this type of intolerance testing is not the answer.
There is no simple test for food intolerance. An elimination and reintroduction process which can take a long time is the only real way to test.
You can read a summary of the Consumer Show Episode here.
If you are in Ireland you can watch the episode on RTE Player. It is the first topic on the show so is right at the start. [Available until 29th April 2015]
I must check that out on the player. My eldest was lactose intolerant and had an egg allergy when she was younger. We are still re-introducing her to dairy since being advised by a dietican but I’m terrified to give the little lad egg. He has taken a mild reaction to tomatoes only last Sunday and broke out after an antibiotic earlier in the month too.
Oh that’s very scary :( I’m glad your daughter has now grown out of it, it’s great to know they can. Best of luck!
I agree totally Laura. Too much faith is put in these tests. My son tested as 87 out of 100 for cows milk. But what convinced me was that eating cows milk caused a blockage in his bowl, runny nappies, undigested food in his nappy and huge continuous weight loss. It has to be a full picture. My other son has not had any tests yet but he too is effected by cows milk but also gets a rash and runny nappy when he eats tomatoes. Keeping a food dairy is more important than the blood test!
Yeah I hear you Ashling, I would be reluctant to do the ‘intolerance’ blood test on children unless I was sure it was a proper scientific method. My notebook and pen diary is what helped with my boys.
It’s so hard living with intolerance when there is no definite scientific answer. So many people think you are making it up or it being a psychological thing. I’ve made myself sick so many times going back on wheat hoping they were right. My doctor told me to just say ‘it doesn’t agree with me ‘. Strangely, people can accept that.
That’s good advice! I sometimes just nod when I start to say about cmpa and then they say ‘oh yeah are they lactose intolerant?’ It seems easier for people to accept if it’s something they have heard of before or can relate to like ‘it doesn’t agree with me’. I totally get the doubting yourself and wondering if it’s a psychological thing. It sucks doesn’t it.
Great post. I was wondering about those tests. My middle-child has tummy pain a lot, and I wondered if I could just do an over the counter test. I’d say it’s just “school-morning-itis” but still, good to know there’s no point spending money on a test!
Thanks! Loads of people do say it works and they get relief from giving up what they are intolerant to. I don’t know if they would do them on kids anyway..