CRP test

[ldubois7]

Hi Tex,

Here are my blood test results:

C-reactive protein .29 mg/dl. Range .00-.50
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. 6 mm/h. Range 0-20

I received no explaination for the results except that theyre in normal range.
Do you have any comments?

Thanks!

[tex]

Hi Linda,

Yep, those numbers look good. So we're back to the original question of how can the levels of certain intestinal antibodies be elevated when there's no apparent inflammation in the body. Either the widely-used inflammation markers have poor sensitivity, or your intestines are not inflamed (despite the presence of antibodies), or like Las Vagas, what happens in the gut stays in the gut.

We know that the last option is not generally true, but maybe it is true for certain situations. And regarding the middle option, the presence of antibody production does not guarantee inflammation. Inflammation only occurs if antigens are available to activate the antibodies, therefore as long as your diet avoids those foods, inflammation should not occur. So the CRP and sed rate results appear to confirm that your intestines are not inflamed (despite the presence of antibodies).

Of course this doesn't answer the question of why your antibody levels would still be so high after Years of following a strict diet.

In the absence of inflammation though, elevated antibody levels are presumably irrelevant. This is similar to carrying elevated antibodies to a vaccine. You don't have the disease, but your immune system is at high alert in case it shows up. Of course this analogy does not apply if food antigens happen to show up. Unlike the immune system response resulting from a vaccine, since food antibodies cannot trigger an immune system response that can actually destroy the food antigens (peptides), an autoimmune reaction will be triggered instead.

I apologize, but I have no idea why those antibody levels would still be high. It's good to see that you don't appear to have an inflammation problem, though.

Tex

[ldubois7]

Thanks, Tex.

Dr. Fine didn't have a solid reason for the elevated levels, but he didn't seem overly concerned either.
He wanted me redo the fat malabsorption test sometime in the future. That concerned him.
I feel that issue is better now, too.

I'll try to follow up with him, and if I get any other insight, I'll let you know.

Thanks!

[tex]

Linda,

I agree that the fat malabsorption issue is a valid concern. You're not by any chance taking any pancreatic lipase inhibiting medications, are you, or any natural supplements that are sources of phenolics, terpenes, saponins, or plant sterols such as carpesterol? They could cause fat malabsorption. And some other chemicals considered to have cholesterol-lowering capabilities can cause fat malabsorption.

Thanks for the information,
Tex

[tex]

I forgot to ask — is your triglyceride level always within the normal range whenever it's tested?

Tex

[ldubois7]

Tex,

No, I'm not taking anything like that.....I just take the basics: Vitamin C, zinc, calcium, molybdenum, magnesium, Vit D, Vit K, B12, & folate. Intake digestive enzymes, betaine hcl, & probiotics. I am not on any prescription drugs.

This is so frustrating to me, as I have put so much effort into clearing the last hurtles.....but, someday we will figure it out, I hope...or not, you know life is just that way sometimes.

Thank you!

[tex]

Linda,

There's a reason for everything. We just have to look in the right place to find it, and some day we'll look in the right place.

You're most welcome,
Tex

[ldubois7]

Tex, I received a reply from Dr Fine today.....

Hi Linda,

Glad you are better. It was more the malabsorption than the antibody levels that were most concerning and glad that is better. I think you should retest for the fat test on enzymes at some point to be sure it is measurably gone since chronic fat malabsorption causes mineral loss and osteoporosis.

The higher antibody levels can be a sign of improved and regain immune tolerance. It takes sometimes up to 40 months for antibody levels to fall in some people.

You should not resume gluten or dairy if that was one of your reactions. Other foods you can try to reintroduce but I would wait at least a year.

Thanks for the update!

Dr Ken

[tex]

Hmmmm. I don't understand the connection between regained tolerance and increased antibody levels. That seems counterintuitive. You'll be approaching 40 months soon.

I do agree with him that gluten and dairy should never be reintroduced, but I have a hunch that soy should also be grouped with those 2. The others are possible candidates for experimentation. That said, I'm now sensitive to soy even though I tested negative for soy a few years ago, so I'm losing foods, not gaining. But as I mentioned, maybe soy is an exception.

Thanks for sharing,
Tex

[ldubois7]

Tex,

When I first called Enterolab and talked to Kathy about my high results, she had said the same thing.....that the heightened levels could be a sign of healing. It's difficult for me to comprehend that theory, too, as I'm not a specialist in the field.

I agree that I will never eat gluten, dairy, & soy again....I would like to add eggs back in to bake with though.

As for my last Enterolab results...panel C....I was +2 for everything except rice, which was +1.
I have been eating some nuts all along and since I got the results. I need them for the protein/fat. I have added rice to my diet to keep me full.

Maybe I should cut out the nuts (walnut, cashew, almond) that they test for and use other nuts? I just reintroduced almond flour though.

If I'm not experiencing a reaction...and I'm not, I'm doing well, should I even worry about it?

[tex]

Linda,

IMO whole nuts are much more likely to be a problem than flours or butters. These days I wouldn't touch any nuts, but I have no problems with nut butters (except peanut butter).

If I'm not experiencing a reaction...and I'm not, I'm doing well, should I even worry about it?

If I were in that situation I wouldn't worry about it. Like you, I would continue to carefully avoid the big 3 and cautiously experiment with the rest if/when I became inspired to do so.

Being the inquisitive type though, I would be inclined to do a fat malabsorption test at some point a year or 2 after the last one, to see which way it is going.

Tex

[ldubois7]

Tex,

I don't eat whole nuts either. I make flours, or nut butters that I bake with, from the nuts.

That's good sound advice. I will retest the fat malabsorption test at the end of this year.

I appreciate your guidance, and hope that this thread will help someone who is struggling .....just to know that there is hope...even if you're a bit of an anomaly.