Source
r/FODMAPS•
Ray_255

Food Intolerance Testing

Hi all, have any of you tried home testing kits for specific food intolerances, and what was your experience if so?

I've been trying to follow the low fodmap diet for about 4 months now, having been 'diagnosed' with IBS (nothing wrong from blood tests, not celiac, suffer bloat, distension, severe constipation, cramps etc), and seeing most of my dietary staples on the list that could be to blame... but I'm not convinced it's working, or that IBS is even the trouble.

Recently a colleague with similar digestive issues opted for a home test kit; sent off a finger prick blood sample, within a week got a list back of foods he was intolerant to (well, out of the 50 foods tested, they're expensive so he went for the basics!). It sounds too good to be true, and I figure if not my GP should be doing this... but all I seem to get from going to my Dr is more frustration

Since joining this sub I've seen people triggered by all manner of things, even low FODMAPs, so I just wondered if anybody here had tried tests like this & got accurate results.

Thanks for reading :)

Posted Apr 2, 2018, 5:46 PM UTC · edited

512
Ratscallion•

Those intolerance tests test for Igg, which will flag positive to any foods your body is regularly exposed to. It's just a marker of exposure, not of allergy. They aren't worth it.

6
climb-highFODMAP LEGEND•

I completely agree. And IgE tests just show typical allergies like shellfish, nuts etc.

2
SzyzFODMAP HERO•

Your work colleague was scammed. Those tests are a scam.

What you need to do if you suspect a food intolerance is an elimination diet.

2
Ray_255OP•

Thank you all for your comments. As I said, it does sound too good to be true, and reading about them online so much seemed to be anecdotal 'evidence', but... just couldn't help getting my hopes up! :(

My colleague purchased the test via the company who provides our company health insurance, so it seemed like a reputable thing. But they're no longer offering them.

I have already been on this elimination diet for quite some time, & while I did start gradually the initial positive results spurred me on to try harder & be stricter with it. But even sticking rigidly to it, recently I've been having all the same symptoms again, I'm almost back to square one. So this weekend I gave in & ate what I wanted, and actually felt a hell of a lot better than I'd been feeling for the past month of low FODMAP.

I certainly want to be able to go to my GP & talk this through but every experience with NHS drs over the years has felt like they are not interested, they don't have time for such menial problems - they just fob me off with another blood test & don't bother following up. So I don't even know for sure if my symptoms are food related or something entirely different. All I know is now I'm confused, frustrated, disheartened & at a compete loss as to what to do.

2
SzyzFODMAP HERO•

OK, so, go off the low fodmaps for a while, eat healthily and reassess.

1
mt256•

My dr recommended I do this and without researching it I went ahead. After finding out it's an igg test I researched and found they are BS. Don't do it. Theyre quite expensive too

2
Ray_255OP•

So your Dr recommended BS... that's reassuring! >.<

1
newdawn79•

There's no scientific evidence behind any intolerance testing kits unfortunately as only true allergies can currently be picked up by blood tests. The only evidence based method is an exclusion diet with staged reintroduction of food groups (e.g. fodmap diet).

1
Nsandberg94•

Been wanting to post the same question, so am interested in what toehrs have to say!

1
climb-highFODMAP LEGEND•

The only test like this that I kind of trust is called the MRT (Mediator Release Test). It tests for many "proinflammatory and proalgesic mediator release[s] from white [blood] cells."

A small study shown on their website shows a nice correlations between reduced inflammatory markers when following the test-designed diet.

If you have money to spare I think it's worth it. It's far from perfect though and won't cure you.

1
NotActuallyJanet•

Did your GP only do blood tests and then diagnose IBS? I would recommend seeing a gastroenterologist so that you can get proper testing to rule out other GI issues (diverticulitis, colitis, etc.) rather than sending off a small blood sample for a home test. I've had at least ten different GI and allergy tests and I have never heard of that one. (Also, I wasn't rigid about low fodmap in the beginning and it really does make a difference if you are 75% vs. 100% following it for the first few weeks. Just a warning in case you are like me.)

1
to_be_deleted_soon•

The general advice is to go low fodmap for a while, then go back and see, then try again.

1