ELISA goes mainstream

[Guest guest]

The following is actually a kind of ad by York labs, but the results

are signficant. IgG testing has always been considered sort

of " on the lunatic fringe " by most docs, but a lot of people have

good results with it, and York will do testing direct via the mail

which is cool, and it looks like now they are getting mainstream

attention. They seem to have a pinprick test for gliadin available

now too.

-- Helga (the glutenator)

--------------------------

HOLLYWOOD, FL USA =96 Six of the contributing editors for Reviews in

Gastroenterological Disorders attended the 2003 Digestive Disease Week

(DDW) meetings and reported on noteworthy presentations in their areas of

expertise (Rev Gastroenterol Disord. 2003; 3(3): 158-179).

One of the studies reviewed evaluated a different treatment modality -

food elimination diets in IBS, which was presented at the plenary session

by a research team from the University Hospital of South Manchester.

According to the review, =93=85 the results of this study could change curre=

nt

management of IBS.=94

The University Hospital of South Manchester researchers conducted an

independent, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. The study

consisted of 150 outpatients with all bowel habit subtypes of IBS and

randomized them to either a diet excluding all foods to which they had

measurable IgG antibody titers, as reported by the IgG ELISA food

intolerance screening known as the foodSCAN, or, alternatively, a placebo

diet. In the placebo diet, the same number of foods were excluded but not

those to which the patients were reported allergic, based on elevated IgG

antibody titers.

The results of this study proved to be extremely interesting. Patients on

the diet in which foods that had positive IgG antibody titers were

excluded did significantly better than patients on the placebo diet.

Global symptoms, as well as symptom severity scores, improved. Simply

put, the health of patients following the correct diet improved

dramatically, while the health of patients on the placebo diet did not.

Additionally, patients with both diarrhea- and constipation- predominant

IBS appeared to respond similarly.

According to Dr. P.J. Whorwell, Gastroenterologist, University Hospital of

South Manchester, " This is the first time a commercially available blood

test for food intolerance has been subjected to scientific scrutiny in

patients with irritable bowel syndrome. In a controlled trial, patients

eliminating foods to which they had antibodies as determined by Yorktest

Laboratories experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms,

providing evidence that this approach may be very valuable in treating

this condition. "

Reviews in Gastroenterological Disorders went on to report, =93=85 if these

results are confirmed, they have the potential to change practice because,

arguably, this approach should be cheaper and may be more effective than

most other current therapies available.=94

BACKGROUND NOTES:

* Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has been reported to affect at least 15%

the population. In fact, it is so common that surveys reveal about half of

the people attending hospital out-patient departments with digestive

problems are suffering from IBS. Symptoms can include: abdominal pain and

spasm, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, flatulence, incontinence, nausea,

belching and vomiting. Secondary symptoms include panic attacks, anxiety

and depression.

* For over 20 years York Nutritional Laboratories (YNL) has been a leading

pioneer in the arena of food allergy testing and has carried out tens of

thousands of tests for patients throughout the world.

* YNL came to international attention with its development of the

foodSCAN; a simple kit that provides a convenient method to test for IgG-

mediated food allergy. A tiny " pin-prick " sample of blood is taken by

using this unique kit, which is then sent to the laboratory for analysis.

The established Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique is

used to identify an individual's IgG antibody reactions against 113

different, and commonly eaten, foods.

* YNL introduced North America to its 93-food foodSCAN IgG ELISA Food

Intolerance Test in December 2000. In June 2001 YNL increased the number

of foods tested for IgG-mediated food allergy from 93 to 113 - without any

increase in the patient cost.

* In August 2002 YNL launched the cdSCAN, a finger-stick IgA Tissue

Transglutaminase (tTG) Autoantibody Assay for the screening of Celiac

Disease.

* In December 2003 YNL made available the hpSCAN Helicobacter Pylori

(H.pylori) Digestive Disorder Kit, which is a rapid test that provides

results within 10 minutes.

* A panel of medical professionals assembled by The Wall Street Journal

reviewed 18 companies and their " at-home " test kits, including York

Nutritional Laboratories' foodSCAN IgG ELISA Food Intolerance Test. The

panel reported very favorably on York Nutritional Laboratories and its

food intolerance screening services. " York Nutritional Laboratories; Uses

the well-regarded ELISA test. " - The Wall Street Journal, Friday, October

26, 2001

* The August/September 2002 issue of The Townsend Letter For Doctors,

published the British Allergy Foundation's (BAF) audit, which the BAF

commissioned the Department of Health Studies at York University to

oversee. The study involved over 1700 patients and validated the foodSCAN

finger-stick test as a treatment for IBS, eczema and migraines.

For further information about food intolerance and its relationship with

IBS, or to receive a copy of the Reviews in Gastroenterological Disorders=92=

review article, contact Kernohan: Toll Free (888) 751-3388, Fax (954)

920-3729, info@... or www.yorkallergyusa.com.

[Guest guest]

Yes, I tried this a few years ago, and in the short term it was

helpful, but found that cutting things out permanently may be counter-

productive (especially if you get a long list). It still has a 13%

margin of error I think. NB The gliadin test is for an intolerance to

gliadin, not a test for coeliac disease.

Kate

>

> The following is actually a kind of ad by York labs, but the results

> are signficant. IgG testing has always been considered sort

> of " on the lunatic fringe " by most docs, but a lot of people have

> good results with it, and York will do testing direct via the mail

> which is cool, and it looks like now they are getting mainstream

> attention. They seem to have a pinprick test for gliadin available

> now too.

>

> -- Helga (the glutenator)

>

>

[Guest guest]

>. NB The gliadin test is for an intolerance to

>gliadin, not a test for coeliac disease.

>

>Kate

Right, but celiac is considered (by a lot of people) to be

just one type of gliadin intolerance. If you have gliadin intolerance

you may or may not develop celiac ... there are lots of other

bad things that can develop too. It's kind of like diabetes and

gangrene ... not all folks with diabetes get gangrene.

-- Helga