Hi Kath and Terry, 

I think that you may be missing some of the complexity of antibody testing.
First, there are 5 classes of selective antibodies, so testing for reactions
of one or two falls far short of excluding all possible allergic reactions.
Admittedly, IgG is the most common selective antibody we have, but all the
others can cause reactions too. 

Also, when looking for a cause-effect relationship, do bear in mind that it
can take up to 72 hours for a given food to trigger a reaction. That means
that such connections may only be identified through a meticulous food
diary.  

Further, when a blood testing is done, specific protein sub-groups are used.
In other words, the blood is exposed to only some of the proteins in a given
food. That means that if you have developed a reaction to one or more of the
amino acid sequences in the proteins that are not included in the panel, you
will not show a reaction despite the fact that you are reacting to it. 

Finally, we can experience transient or chronic deficiencies of one or more
classes of antibodies. For instance, about 5% of those with celiac disease
are IgA deficient and celiac blood tests will be negative despite advanced
mucosal atrophy due to undiagnosed celiac disease.

Even the above complications are only a sampling of the potential pitfalls
of serological allergy testing. Nonetheless, such test results are very
valuable tools that will help us eliminate harmful allergens from our diets.


After considerable research, I chose to use Immuno Laboratories. My
investigations suggested that their tests were superior. My entire family
has since been tested by Immuno Labs, and I am very pleased with the
results. However, this does not mean that these tests are perfect. For all
of the above reasons, and more, we need to keep our wits about us as we look
at test results and potential allergies. 

Further, I think that the MS sufferer should continue to eliminate gluten as
well as eliminating dairy and soy. She/he should also be sure to ingest lots
of fats (with the exception of trans fats). This latter bit of advice runs
contrary to those who advocate dietary interventions in MS, but I believe
that fats are an important element in the MS diet. 

Best Wishes, 
Ron Hoggan  



   
 

> -----Original Message-----
 On Behalf Of 
> [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 5:58 PM
> 
> It's an excellent question. Food antibody panels such as 
> Genova's test for IgG and IgE antibodies in blood samples 
> when foods are added to them.
> Triggering antibodies is not the only way that modern foods 
> like grains cause harm. Also, the evidence on the accuracy of 
> food antibody panels and the effectiveness of the rotation 
> diets they produce is scarce and contradictory. Nonetheless, 
> it is curious that modern foods don't score higher than they 
> do on those tests.
> 
> I had a food antibody panel test done myself and some of the 
> foods it rated as having high levels of antibodies do not 
> give me any noticeable symptoms, whereas other foods that it 
> rated as having low antibody levels do lead to symptoms. 
> Other people have mentioned the same lack of pure 
> correlation. It was interesting, however, that I had high 
> levels for a lot of foods, whereas my father only had a few, 
> which does correlate well with the fact that I had much more 
> food sensitivity reactions than him.
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> ...
> > 
> > I have been struggling with a particularly difficult form of post 
> > polio, known as progressive post polio muscular atrophy (similar to 
> > ALS), for over 15 years and have been considering spending 
> the money 
> > to have an allergy panel done.  My body has enough problems and 
> > dealing with foods to which I am allergic just doesn't make sense, 
> > plus my form of post polio appears to have an autoimmune 
> component.  
> > That said, I have been paleo or semi-paleo for over a dozen 
> years and 
> > one of the things I do not understand is this: if humans 
> are not yet 
> > adapted to grains, why does this not show up in at least some 
> > sensitivity when an allergy panel is done?
> > 
> > TIA,
> > 
> > Kath