How Accurate is Food Allergy Testing
Are you considering a biopsy to ascertain if you've got a food sensitivity? Surprised that your insurance firm won't buy the value of the food allergy testing? In any case, it's a medical test. Or is it? Let’s have a look.
Food sensitivity isn't truly a medical diagnosis. This term, however, is employed by the manufacturers of varied blood tests claimed to detect sensitivities to certain foods. And, the evidence supporting the power of those blood tests to assess problems with eating certain foods is questionable.
There are Three issues, Not One
Food allergies happen when the system reacts to a substance, which is typically a protein, within a type of food or group of foods. Typically, the system goes into gear when it detects a harmful substance. It does that by making antibodies.
When someone has an allergy, their system identifies a selected protein as harmful and makes antibodies to fight it off. This leads to a variety of symptoms, including skin rashes and breathing problems.
Food intolerances aren't a system reaction. They relate to a bother in digesting foods. Food intolerances occur due to the shortage of an enzyme needed to digest certain foods. Sometimes, it also occurs as a reaction to additives or present compounds in edibles.
Individuals with food intolerances could also be ready to eat small amounts of bothersome foods. But, once they have an excessive amount of, their body reacts. For instance, many of us with a lactose deficiency find out that after having drunk a little amount of milk with meals or eat yogurt or other foods that are lower in lactose they do not experience any symptoms.
Food sensitivity has no standard medical definition. It often doesn't mean anything. Sometimes, this term is used rather than food intolerance, like sulfite sensitivity and histamine sensitivity. Other times, it's used as a catchphrase that has both food allergies and intolerances. So you need to know which one you are suffering from when going for food allergy testing.
Food Sensitivity Blood Tests
While "food sensitivity" isn't an official diagnosis, the recognition of food sensitivity blood tests has grown. However, at this point, the evidence is lacking to support the utilization of those tests in diagnosing adverse reactions to foods.
There is a spread of blood tests being offered that claim to check for food sensitivities. Almost like allergy testing, these tests typically search for immunoglobulin antibodies. Within the case of food allergies, skin pricks and blood tests that measure a protein called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, are wont to diagnose them. The presence of IgE antibodies generally indicates a system response.
Food sensitivity tests typically search for the presence of IgG (not IgE). IgG antibodies are useful, but they really haven't been shown to truly identify food allergies or sensitivities, just indications. Most people produce IgG antibodies after eating food. They're not specific to an individual's sensitivity, although past or frequent exposure to food may cause these levels to be higher.
Because IgG blood tests haven't been proven to spot food sensitivities or allergies, there's a scarcity of evidence to support their findings. The restrictions suggested by IgG test results may lead you to unnecessarily avoid healthy foods. Or, they'll prompt individuals with food allergies to incorporate foods that would be harmful to them.
Request a Consultation
If you want to be sure about your food allergy, then contact Full Circle Health Clinic. They provide various testing including gluten sensitivity testing, full blood testing in OKC.
**Disclaimer: This content is neither a medical advice nor does it imply a doctor-patient relationship