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Clinical Trial Validates Finger-Stick Food Intolerance Test and Brings New
Hope For The Sufferers Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome


A paper (IgG Antibodies To Food: A Role In Irritable Bowel Syndrome?),
published in the October 2004 edition of the British Medical Journal’s GUT,
brings new hope for those suffering with the misery of IBS.

It is well established that food plays a key role in IBS for many people.
However, until now identifying which foods could be causing the problem has
been incredibly difficult and involved a traditional elimination diet, which
is both time consuming and laborious. The paper discusses the results of a
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, which, for the first time, places a
test for identifying food intolerances under scientific scrutiny. The
results were positive and concluded that “a clinically significant
improvement in IBS was observed in patients eliminating foods as identified
by the YORKTEST Laboratories foodSCAN”.

IBS is a relatively common condition, which significantly impairs quality of
life and places a large burden on health care resources. Treatment of IBS is
largely based on the use of antispasmodics, antidepressants and medications
that modify bowel habit depending on whether constipation or diarrhea is the
predominant problem. The notorious inadequacies of current drug therapy lead
to much patient dissatisfaction and a tendency for patients to seek a
variety of alternative remedies, especially of a dietary nature.

The detection of food intolerance is often difficult due to uncertain
etiology, non-specific symptomatology and relative inaccessibility of the
affected organ. Thus most previous studies have relied on the use of
exclusion diets, which are extremely labor intensive and time consuming. The
British Society of Gastroenterology ‘guidelines for the management of IBS’
notes diet as a major factor but also agrees that common exclusion diets can
be ‘arduous’. Attempts to ‘test’ for food intolerance in IBS have largely
focused on ‘classic’ food allergy based on the presence of IgE mediated
antibody responses, although it appears that these ‘immediate type’
reactions are probably quite rare in IBS. It is therefore possible that
adverse reactions to food in patients with IBS might be due to some other
form of immunological mechanism, rather than dietary allergy. Such reactions
could be mediated by IgG antibodies, which characteristically give a more
delayed response following exposure to a particular antigen, although this
mechanism is controversial and considered, by some, to be physiological. The
role of the IgG antibody mediated food sensitivity has not been previously
investigated in IBS and it was the aim of this trial to evaluate the
therapeutic potential of an elimination diet based on the presence of IgG
antibodies to food in patients with IBS.

The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design in which
patients were randomized to either a ‘true’ diet or ‘placebo’ diet control
group. Blood was collected from each patient and sent with only a study
participant number identifier to YORKTEST Laboratories where an ELISA
foodSCAN test was performed to detect the presence of IgG antibodies
specific to a panel of food allergens. YORKTEST Laboratories then produced
one true and one placebo (sham) diet sheet for each patient. Patients would
receive either an elimination diet based on their actual food intolerance
results (true diet) or a placebo diet.

The research concluded that a clinically significant improvement in IBS
symptomatology was observed in patients eliminating foods to which they were
found to exhibit sensitivity, as identified by the foodSCAN IgG ELISA Food
Intolerance Test performed by YORKTEST Laboratories.

Many patients with IBS would prefer a dietary solution to their problem
rather than having to take medication, but find traditional exclusion diets
very difficult to follow and compliance rates are often very poor. The
information provided by the foodSCAN gives people a head start to a point
where they can actually start to help themselves. Using a traditional
exclusion diet method IBS sufferers have to spend weeks of trial and error
attempting to identify foods, which they have an intolerance to before they
can even begin to exclude those foods and see whether there is any medical
benefit. The research identified that those following the dietary advice
most rigorously also experienced the most benefit, which is often a
conclusion many people reach themselves. Re-introduction of foods for some
people can bring a very sudden on-set of symptoms again, which motivated
people to return to the diet and remain compliant.

YORKTEST's foodSCAN also has considerable economic benefits. It is estimated
that there are nearly 1 million GP consultations a year as a result of IBS,
which makes it a huge cost and time burden for the NHS. Many GPs also
experience considerable frustration with IBS, which is as much to do with
medical uncertainty, as it is a shortage of effective interventions.
This research is an exciting step forwards in the management of IBS as it
has shown that YORKTEST's foodSCAN has considerable benefits for both those
suffering with IBS as well as the healthcare professionals caring for those
with the condition.

IBS sufferers, for the first time, have a simple and effective option for
identifying the underlying cause of their IBS symptoms. They are then
provided with the information, which can help them self-manage their IBS
symptoms without the need for ongoing drug treatment. Healthcare
professionals have also been provided with an effective intervention for the
treatment of IBS. Until this point clinicians have not had a clinically
proven way of identifying the causes for a person’s IBS symptoms, which
means treatment has often involved drug therapy, which has been notoriously
inadequate. Now clinicians can accurately pin-point firstly whether food is
playing a role in a person’s IBS and, more importantly, exactly which foods
are causing the problem. As this research shows elimination of those foods
results in a significant clinically benefit for those suffering with a
condition that, until now, has been a considerable cause of frustration for
sufferers and healthcare professionals alike.

To receive a copy of the published study, IgG Antibodies To Food: A Role In
Irritable Bowel Syndrome?, or for further information, contact York
Nutritional Laboratories: Toll Free (888) 751-3388, Fax (954) 920-3729,
[log in to unmask] or www.yorkallergyusa.com.

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