How Food Allergy Tests Can Help You

Food allergies and sensitivities have been associated with numerous symptoms including but not limited to anxiety, arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue, depression, fluid retention, gout, headache, hives, hyperactivity, multiple sclerosis, obsessive compulsive disorder, premenstrual syndrome, seizures, skin problems, and weight gain.

There are two main types of food allergies and sensitivities: immediate and delayed.

IgG antibodies are associated with non-anaphylactic food allergies, more commonly called delayed food allergies or food sensitivities. These antibodies act as blocking agents to prevent a potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction from an IgE immunoglobulin response.¹

Specific chronic diseases and conditions have been linked to elevated levels of IgG in the body. Symptoms of a non-anaphylactic food allergy are not always attributed to the offending food because they may occur hours to days after ingesting the food. The E-95, A-95 and FoodSafe allergy panels measure IgG levels allowing patients to identify foods that may be contributing to their specific health conditions.

A review of recent and past research has revealed specific conditions that strongly correlate with elevated IgG levels in the blood. These states of ill health include:

• migraine,²
• arthritis,^2,3
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),^7,8,9
• celiac disease,¹⁰
• diabetes,^6,11
• atherosclerosis, inflammation,^6,12
• autoimmunity, neurodegeneration and neuro-autoimmunity,⁶
• chronic diarrhea in children,¹³
• asthma and rhinitis,¹⁴
• anaphylaxis,¹⁵
• and atopic dermatitis.¹⁶

In fact, it appears that food allergy symptoms in infants (up to 3 years of age) correlate more strongly with elevated levels of IgG4 than IgE.¹²

Additionally, elevated IgG levels parallel elevated IgE levels in atopic children, indicating that IgG4 may be a useful predictor of food and sensitivity.^17,18,19

Physicians in clinical practice have identified a wider list of symptoms that appear to be related to food allergies (reviewed in the introduction). Viewing IgG as a “protective” antibody against anaphylaxis due to its IgE blocking action, it is reasonable to conclude that high IgG levels indicate that a person is more allergic, and may have a greater potential for an anaphylactic response. Therefore, developing a chronic disease such as IBS, which correlates with elevated levels of IgG, may be the body’s way of preventing an immediately life threatening event.

To assist in the detection of these food allergy reactions, Meridian Valley Laboratory measures IgG levels using the ELISA method on a sample of serum or from a blood spot collection. This method has been determined to be highly reproducible within labs and between labs, based on split sample testing, compared to other forms of serum food allergy testing.⁵ The E-95, A-95, and FoodSafe test panels are available to assist patients in determining whether food allergies may be contributing to their health condition. The E-95 and A-95 also measure IgE levels and give results in a combined format or total antibody burden per food.

Avoiding foods for which there is a high antibody burden should reduce the levels of IgG and IgE, in turn reducing the patient’s overall allergic load. Reintroduction of some foods may be possible after a period of avoiding them if it has been long enough for the levels of both immune globulins to decrease. However, a rotational diet is recommended to prevent an allergy from returning. Some foods may need to be permanently eliminated.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University did a thorough review of the literature earlier this year (2010) and concluded, “among modalities used by many conventional and alternative practitioners, immunoglobulin G (IgG)-based testing showed promise, with clinically meaningful results. It has been proven useful as a guide for elimination diets, with clinical impact for a variety of diseases.”²⁰ Every food allergy test done at Meridian Valley Lab includes a food rotation and elimination guide.

The allergy panels offered by Meridian Valley Laboratory provide patients with important knowledge about how their bodies are reacting to foods. Patients can use their results to customize their diet and assist in treatment of their conditions. Any patient with a suspicion of allergy or hypersensitivity, arthritis, migraine, diabetes, chronic intestinal distress and IBS may benefit from being screened using the E-95, A-95 or FoodSafe Allergy Test panel.

Learn more by clicking here:Food Allergy Testing

or by calling Meridian Valley Lab at 425-271-8689.

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