Food intolerance testing is proving to be a significant part of health screening. Regina Daly reports
The effectiveness of a DIY blood test for food intolerance, available in Europe for some years, has been confirmed by scientists based at South Manchester University Hospital.
A soon-to-be-published clinical trial is expected to dispel doubts about such tests which have been viewed sceptically by some doctors in the past.
The trial was on patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who took a YorkTest food intolerance test which measures levels of IgG food antibodies in the blood (a feature of the body's immune system). The results showed "a clinically significant improvement can be achieved in some patients with IBS using a food elimination diet based on IgG food antibodies".
In the UK, where the test has been available for several years, it has helped people not only with symptoms like IBS but also migraine, bloating, tiredness, sinusitis/hay fever, ear infections and skin conditions.
Such was the success of the test, the company which developed the test wanted credibility in the area because of the scepticism with which it was viewed.
They sought the advice of York University which advised them to get questionnaires sent to about 4,000 former patients analysed. Patients had answered questions about the test's benefits, their past and present condition, if they stuck to a changed diet, for how long, etc.
The company then analysed the data and found about 70 per cent of people who did the test and rigorously followed the diet found benefits.
York University then advised them to do an audit to test the methodology and see if the information was being correlated correctly.
The Department of Health Studies in York did the audit at the request of the British Allergy Foundation. It found that information and the way in which it was analysed was correct. The positive audit, however, would not carry weight in the medical profession, and YorkTest UK was advised to get "empirical evidence" - 150 patients took part in the trial of the YorkTest IgG- based blood test. The results are to be published in a gastroenterologist scientific journal Gut shortly.
Mark Goulding of YorkTest Ireland says the research is very significant. "We have got fabulous anecdotal evidence, and not just in IBS. The signs are good for skin problems, sinusitis, migraine, tiredness and anxiety, and a host of other conditions. The company has the survey which shows the tests are widely useful, and now for the first time there is hope of it being taken seriously due to the clinical trial results.
"Many people do not realise that certain health problems may be caused by an intolerance to food(s) they are eating. The fact that symptoms can take several days to appear makes the association between symptom and food very difficult. Food intolerance is different to food allergy [which can be sudden and severe\] and is thought to be much more common."
He and his wife Mary own and manage YorkTest Ireland which was set up last year in Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow. It distributes food intolerance tests and homocysteine/cholesterol tests from YorkTest Laboratories UK. The latter were recently featured on RTÉ's Late Late Show.
Goulding originally studied marketing, and worked for the medical company 3M and the pharmaceutical company Sterling-Winthrop. He is also a qualified acupuncturist with a practice in Bray.
He says acupuncture is now being accepted by conventional doctors and he's pleased as he believes food intolerance testing is now also about to be accepted.
Two and a half years ago, he found he was becoming a bit sluggish and tired. He noticed a glass or two of wine would leave him feeling unwell the next day. He did a YorkTest and discovered he was intolerant to yeast.
There are three types of test available. The foodSCAN Indicator test gives a simple yes/no result that tells if there is an IgG reaction in the blood or not. It can be taken as a first step and about half of those who take it will get a "no" result and no further testing is required (€29.99). If a "yes" is indicated, one of two tests can be taken to get food specific details.
The foodSCAN is the most popular. It provides aassessment of a person's reaction to 113 different foods (€359). The foodSCAN 42 checks for intolerances to 42 of the most common eaten food groups(€179).
For more information: Tel 01-2873378 or visit www.yorktestireland.com