Food Sensitivity Testing

Information was taken from the USBiotek website. Hyperlinks of sample documents are attached for more information.

Clinical Information

The Food Sensitivity Test is an important specialty lab assessment tool to objectively figure out which foods your body is negatively reacting to. Analyzing each individual food in your diet and your concurrent symptom picture can be extremely challenging without proper testing. This difficulty of identifying specific dietary causes arises because of the delayed dose-response relationship which can take hours to weeks to occur. However, with the ease of an individual blood test this can be an efficient and important parameter to measure to alleviate inflammation in the body. This protocol is best utilized before various supplements/medications are introduced. It is necessary to isolate the root cause of an ailment and eliminate triggers, while limiting additional input, in order to allow the body time to properly heal.

Difference between an IgE allergic reaction and a IgG food sensitivity?

Both IgE and IgG are antibodies which make up a portion of the immune system. When IgE antibodies react to antigens on foods, this will result in an immediate allergic reaction causing mild to severe symptoms that may be life threatening. When IgG antibodies react with food antigens they create complexes that are not removed properly from our body and accumulate to cause chronic inflammation resulting in various symptoms.

Procedure for obtaining sample:

The sample is obtained via a simple finger prick test performed at home with a lancet. The sample will be shipped off for processing and the results will arrive in just under two weeks. Patients must book an appointment with the naturopathic doctor in order to receive their results.

Procedure for protocol:

It is highly recommended to completely remove the offending foods in red and yellow for 4-6 weeks. After that time, one food will be reintroduced each week eaten daily to determine the symptom severity. If the introduced food does not cause symptoms after one week that food can be kept in the diet, and the next week another food can be introduced. If the specific food causes aggravation, the food will be removed from the diet. Depending on the individual presentation, some foods will be more provocative then others and may have to be removed for extended periods of time. However, these foods should not have to be avoided for a patients entire life. Once the body is in a better state of health, foods should be able to be reintroduced with less repercussions.

Candida Testing

Candida is a type of yeast normally found in the bowel that requires sugars to grow.

Elevated IgG antibodies to Candida are often found when someone has a fungal infection of some sort. For example, vaginal yeast infection, ‘jock itch’, and ringworm. Consuming too many sugar-rich foods can contribute to overgrowth of Candida.

Symptoms associated with Candida overgrowth include:

clouded thinking
depression
diarrhea
fatigue
menstrual pain
vaginal yeast infections
headaches

The RMA FST™ offers Candida IgG antibodies as a panel option, however, chronic exposure to Candida, particularly when it has colonized or invaded the gut lining, can result in the elevation of IgG, IgA, and IgM specific antibodies. You can order the Candida Panel, which tests for IgG, IgA and IgM if you suspect chronic exposure with the food sensitivity test.

The Candida Panel measures levels of IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies to Candida plus Candida antigen in a blood sample. Measurement of Candida antigen in blood indicates widespread infection, which can occur in immunocompromised individuals.