Enterolab results are in! (Sara, we guessed wrong...)

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:38 pm

Hi Tex and Cynthia,

I dont think I posted my results....so here they are! When I took these test I was also DF, GF and SF for 2 months.

A + C) Comprehensive Gluten/Antigenic Food Sensitivity Stool Panel
(Combines Panels A and C at a discounted price)
Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 10 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 18 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 22 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 28 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-soy IgA 23 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Interpretation of Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods: Overall, there was only a modest amount of immunological reactivity detected to these antigenic foods in terms of fecal IgA production.

Many foods besides gluten, cow’s milk, eggs, and soy are antigenic in their own right; the main classes of which include other grains, meats, nuts, and nightshades (potatoes being the primary food eaten from this latter class). Minimizing exposure to antigenic foods is an important component of an anti-inflammatory lifestyle to optimize immune system health. This is especially important for those with chronic abdominal symptoms and/or chronic immune/autoimmune syndromes, or for those who want to prevent them.

For immunologic food sensitivity testing, the actual numeric value (in Units) for any given test or for the overall average of a group of foods is important mainly for determining: 1) if the immune reaction is present or absent, and 2) in relative terms, the immune reaction to different foods tested in a given individual at a given point in time. It is not a score, per se, to be interpreted as a measure of clinical or immunological severity for that individual or between individuals. This is because the amount of IgA antibody made by a given person is particular for the immune function of that person. Furthermore, sometimes a person can display what can be viewed as immunological and nutritional “exhaustion,” whereby a more significant and symptomatic immunologic food sensitivity is accompanied by a lower positive measured anti-food antibody value (rather than a higher positive). In such an instance, following clinical improvement and improved nutritional status (while the suspect antigenic foods are withdrawn), values can actually be higher for a time before finally falling into the negative range after several years.

Thus, the overall average food sensitivity antibody value for this panel is an assessment of your overall humoral immunologic food reactivity, which can help determine if dietary elimination trials may help you. If the mean value is less than 10 Units, the humoral immune reactions can be considered absent (negative); if greater than or equal to 10 Units, they can be considered present. Rather than reporting the absolute value of a positive result for each individual food, since it cannot be considered as an assessment of severity, the results are reported in relative terms between the foods tested. This provides you with the knowledge of which foods are stimulating the most immune response which, in turn, is indeed the most practically applied information to dietary elimination trials. The report information that follows is based on these facts.

While all of the foods tested can be immune-stimulating, the hierarchy of reactions detected were as follows:

Food toward which you displayed most immunologic reactivity: Tuna, Chicken, Pork, Corn
Food toward which you displayed intermediate reactivity: Beef, Cashew
Food for which there was no significant immunologic reactivity: White potato, Almond, Walnut, Rice, Oat

Within each class of foods to which you displayed multiple reactions, the hierarchy of those reactions detected were as follows:

Grains:
Grain toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Corn

Meats:
Meat toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Tuna
Meat toward which you were next most immunologically reactive: Chicken
Meat toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Pork
Meat toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Beef

Nuts:
Nut toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Cashew

Dietary Recommendation Based on Test Results to Individual Foods: This test panel was designed to guide your choices when building a new more healthful, less antigenic dietary plan. The results are delivered in such a way that you are not left with “nothing to eat,” but instead they guide you in avoiding the foods in each group that are most stimulating to your immune system. We discourage dietary changes that involve removing too many foods at once. This can lead you to feel too hungry too often, especially if adequate healthful replacement foods are not readily available. Dietary elimination (beyond gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free) is best approached over a period of weeks to months and sometimes years, removing one or two additional foods at a time, rather than removing many foods at once.

If you are experiencing symptoms possibly attributable to chronic immunological food sensitivity, such as chronic headaches, abdominal symptoms (pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation), sinus congestion, arthritis, chronic skin problems/rashes, fibromyalgia, and/or chronic fatigue, it may benefit you to avoid the foods for which you are most reactive first, followed, if necessary by those to which you are intermediately and least reactive.

You can use the hierarchal results from each specific class of food, within which you reacted to multiple antigens, to make the wisest dietary decision when choosing which food(s) from that class to keep in your diet. Choose the food(s) to which you were least reactive (or in the case of potato, non-reactive).

Avoiding all grains, most antigenic meats (such as these), and nightshades is an important part of the most optimized anti-inflammatory diet.

As nuts and seeds are a very healthful source of vegetarian protein and heart-protective oils and minerals, rather than avoiding all nuts and seeds, you can render nuts and seeds less antigenic, more digestible, and more easily tolerated by choosing the few that you seem to best tolerate overall, soaking a one-day supply in a glass jar filled with clean water for 4-8 hours (or for ease, overnight), and pouring off the water and rinsing before eating. The resultant soaked nuts or seeds can be eaten as is (alone or with fresh or dried fruit), blended into nut butters (by adding some water), or added to “smoothies.”

Interpretation of Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA: The level of intestinal anti-gliadin IgA antibody was elevated, indicative of active dietary gluten sensitivity. For optimal health; resolution or improvement of gluten-induced syndromes (mainly falling into six categories abbreviated as NAAAGS – neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, asthma, abdominal, glandular deficiencies/hyperactivity or skin diseases); resolution of symptoms known to be associated with gluten sensitivity (such as abdominal symptoms - pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation, chronic headaches, chronic sinus congestion, depression, arthritis, chronic skin problems/rashes, fibromyalgia, and/or chronic fatigue); and prevention of small intestinal damage and malnutrition, osteoporosis, and damage to other tissues (like nerves, brain, joints, muscles, thyroid, pancreas, other glands, skin, liver, spleen, among others), it is recommended that you follow a strict and permanent gluten free diet. As gluten sensitivity is a genetic syndrome, you may want to have your relatives screened as well.

For additional information on result interpretation, as well as educational information on the subject of gluten sensitivity, please see the "FAQ Result Interpretation," "FAQ Gluten/Food Sensitivity," and "Research & Education" links on our EnteroLab.com website.

Interpretation of Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA: Levels of fecal IgA antibody to food antigens greater than or equal to 10 Units are indicative of an immune reaction, and hence immunologic “sensitivity” to that food. It is recommended that for any elevated fecal antibody level to a highly antigenic food such as milk, that it be removed from your diet.

Interpretation of Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA: Levels of fecal IgA antibody to food antigens greater than or equal to 10 Units are indicative of an immune reaction, and hence immunologic “sensitivity” to that food. It is recommended that for any elevated fecal antibody level to a highly antigenic food such as egg, that it be removed from your diet.

Interpretation of Fecal Anti-soy IgA: Levels of fecal IgA antibody to food antigens greater than or equal to 10 Units are indicative of an immune reaction, and hence immunologic “sensitivity” to that food. It is recommended that for any elevated fecal antibody level to a highly antigenic food such as soy, that it be removed from your diet.

So there you have it!

Tex ....I am taking myself off of the Asacol. Lately it seems nothing I eat is likes with me. It could be stress. I dont know anymore.

Love Robin

Post by **tex** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:16 pm

Robin,

Trying a couple of weeks without Asacol should tell you whether or not it might be a problem for you. Hopefully, that will do the trick, and you'll be feeling much better in a few days.

I assume you won't mind if I add your test results to our collection. If you'd rather I didn't, I'll certainly remove them.

Thanks,

Love,
Tex

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:05 pm

Wow, Robin - thanks for sharing these!

Sounds as though - like me! - you were not expecting the egg results, since you were already GF/SF/DF. I was really surprised.

I really do feel as though the incredible variety of results on those 11 antigenic foods is going to help us all, in the long run, to figure things out. The great variation in our specific results is interesting... For example, oats were my most reactive food, and among nuts I had most immunologic reactivity to walnuts, intermediate to almonds, and least to cashews.

This makes me wonder - had we known that we had the potential to be gluten sensitive, and cut it out years ago - would all these other intolerances have happened anyway? Perhaps yes, in some cases - there is a reason why Enterolab tests these foods, and not 'parsley' or other foods that aren't famous for causing problems. In any case, any help in prioritizing what we should be eating, among the many potential foods out there, is so very welcome.

I took Asacol many years ago, when MC first appeared (and then mysteriously vanished... maybe with the help of Asacol, but certainly some luck was involved, as I had no idea about the diet connection). I hope removing it from the mix is helpful to you - I stopped it abruptly back in my first MC go-around, without a problem - though I was not struggling with symptoms at the time I just stopped refilling the Rx.

Hugs,
Sara

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:34 am

Robin,

With results like that, after being on the diet for a couple of months, no wonder you were so sick! You really lit up the big 4 like a Christmas tree. I am hoping that one day I might get some of my "secondary" foods back--maybe you will, too!

Sara, that's a good question. Kind of a "chicken or the egg" thing! I hope that, if gluten was responsible for kicking everything off, that being off it will allow some other things to go back to normal (potatoes, pleeaaasseee...).

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:49 pm

Hi All,

Tex....Of course you can post my results! Anything for you!

I don't know if this was a good idea but I just stopped the Asacol without tapering off. So we will see how things go. I am hoping it was the Asacol giving me some problems. With Christmas 5 days away I really would like it I was feeling better than I am. I was very sick last year for Christmas and would really not like to repeat that

Sara....I have been wondering the same thing myself. I was tested for the last 5 years for a gluten sensitivity!!! A lot a good that did me! I have always been sensitive to dairy. About a year ago I knew I hade soy problems when I ate edames (I was tooting my own horn for days). My sons may have a dairy problem too. I was think I might have them tested next year (curious mom). They say I can have white potato, well boiled I am okay with but I tried potato chips cooked in the avocado oil (they were AMAZING) however they did not like being in my belly! Maybe in a couple of months I can try them again. For right now I am on a very very strick diet. I am still have nausea, headaches and every once in awhile the D returns. Whats wonderful is NO urgency, No aches and pains anymore. I thought my lower back pains where from a car accident that I was in many years ago. I lived in pain everyday (thats why I ate Advil like they were M&M's), I haven't had lower back pains in 5 whole months YIPPEE! I cant believe all these years it was a gluten sensitivity and not from the car accident! The best is NO hot flashes, NO more mood swings and I am not so tired either. So believe me I am not complaining, if I have just a headache, a little nausea or D once in awhile. If this as good as it gets for me I will certainly deal with it.

Cynthia...I did light up that Christmas tree for to long! I am so thankful that I found this forum! I have been sick for so long that I don't remember what its like to be normal and have a life. I too hope that someday I can have my "secondary" foods back. But belive it or not if I can stay healthy without them I wont miss them at all.

Okay so I now have a question....If 10 Units or lower were normal ranges and I was in the 20's, is that because my gut was inflamed and when the inflammation goes away my sensitivity will be lower? Or will I always have the levels that I have now? Did that makes sense?

I wish I could go to each and everyone of your homes and give you guys BIG hugs! I cant tell you how much you all mean to me. Its a huge weight off of my shoulders to know that I am not crazy and that all of this is not in my head!!

Love Robin

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:35 am

There have been a few people on the forum who have actually tested with Enterolab twice--once when they first were diagnosed and/or had problems, and then years later when they were in remission. While the numbers are usually lower, that doesn't necessarily mean the sensitivity is gone. If you don't eat something, eventually you will stop producing antibodies for that food, but if you're still intolerant and you start eating it again, you will make more antibodies and eventually be back where you started. It's my understanding that gluten is forever, and for most people casein is too, but some people are able to gradually add back some of the others (I believe Tex posted in another thread that he had success with this after being in remission for a couple of years). I am still in the process of figuring out my intolerances, so it will be awhile before I try adding anything back, but I hope someday in the distant future, I will be able to do just that.

Post by **tex** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:34 am

Robin wrote:Okay so I now have a question....If 10 Units or lower were normal ranges and I was in the 20's, is that because my gut was inflamed and when the inflammation goes away my sensitivity will be lower? Or will I always have the levels that I have now? Did that makes sense?

Cynthia is correct. The body continues to produce antibodies for a long time, but if we avoid the foods to which we are sensitive, those antibodies are unable to bind to an antigen, and so they are eventually discarded, unused. If they find an antigen for binding, then, of course, they will become activated, and the reaction will continue, and the immune system will continue to produce more and more antibodies.

The IgA antibody tests used by Enterolab, will continue to detect the antibodies as long as they are produced, but if virtually all of the antibodies expire without binding, then the immune system will progressively produce fewer of them, so that eventually, the number in circulation will be so low that they will no loner trigger a positive result in those tests.

Yes, after your antibody levels decline sufficiently, you will be less sensitive, so that eventually, it may take more of an allergen to produce a response, and/or, the response will be less severe. However, at that point, if you continue to ingest an allergen, then your antibody level will again rise to a higher level, and you will once again become more sensitive to that allergen, (unless, of course, your immune system has become desensitized to that allergen).

Love,
Tex

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:54 pm

Hi Cynthia and Tex,

Thank you for explaining this all to me. I really NEVER want to get back where I was before MC. I just was hoping someday to get back my chicken soup! I have tried turkey but it just doesn't taste the same. I have really found it very easy to omit everything else. My chicken soup was always my comfort food. I guess things could be worse so I will part ways with my chicken soup

Love Robin

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:45 pm

Robin - I also hated giving up my chicken soup. I am a Jewish grandmother, after all. But turkey soup, if made right, can be a very acceptable substitute. The trick is to roast the bones with veggies for a couple of hours, pouring off the fat, adding fresh veggies and simmering all night.

I am hoping I finally figure out my sensitivities, and my gut can begin to heal. I hope you do too.

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:50 am

Asacol is a rough drug IMO. Seems I have to take much lower doses than prescribed and then I wonder about the placebo effect.

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:32 am

Robin wrote: I am on Entocort and Asacol and still somedays have the D. So I have no idea anymore.

Robin, are you drinking coffee or taking in anything with caffeine? I was on 9 mg Entocort and still had D - until the day I quit coffee. My BMs became normal - oops, Norman - the day I stopped drinking coffee! It wasn't fun doing that but it worked. The BMs aren't perfect every day, but close to it.

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:43 am

Tex is right, as usual.

I tried the mesalamine-based meds and had much worse diarrhea while on them. *Then* I was put on Entocort in 2007 and never looked back, although I do try to get off it at least once a year, to no avail. Now that I've quit coffee, almonds, popcorn and grapes - all stuff I love - I think my chances of getting off or using much less Entocort are better.

Any thoughts on Welchol?

Post by **tex** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:42 am

As far as side effects are concerned, IMO, Welchol is probably the safest SNRI available.

Tex

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:09 am

SNRI?

Post by **tex** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:31 am

Oops!

Sorry about that. For some reason or other, I misread that as Welbutrin.

The bile acid sequestrants sometimes help if excess bile is the problem, (especially for people who no longer have a gallbladder), but the dosage sometimes needs to be tweaked, because too much can cause cramps and other GI pains.

Tex