Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
Hi Polly and Mary Beth,
Google Spectracell Laboratories and take a look at the information about their three categories of tests.
Polly, first of all, I'd like to see what you think of their lipoprotein tests. Looks as if this will make it a little easier to zero in even harder on the most at risk patients, doesn't it? I know I would want to get my act together based on these test results!
Mary Beth,
It will be neat to find out specifically which nutrients are getting into the cells rather than having to rely on the amounts in circulating blood. Have you heard much about these tests in your area of expertise. I think they are fairly new.
Anyway, I know someone who is awaiting results. We'll see how those tests turn out, and if she has to add supplementation of anything to get to the appropriate levels inside her cells.
There's lots of information inside the website, but I've also enjoyed reading a publication that was given to the person who just had these tests. I'm contemplating having these, depending upon the satisfaction of the person I know who's getting her results back, hopefully soon.
The lab has the CLIA stamp of approval, and they list research on various nutrients and deficiencies of said -- functions of various things in the body and what deficiencies of each will do, etc.
I wonder if they will continue to add things that they test for as time wears on. The tests pretty much cover the main nutrients, from what I could tell.
Lemme know whatcha think?
Yours, Luce
Polly and Mary Beth
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hey Luce,
This really isn't my area of expertise . . . at this point I focus more on eating behaviors . . . more like "why did you eat the bag of Oreos instead of confronting your husband about his affair".
Seriously though, I did look at the nutition testing part of the site and found it interesting. I do believe it is a valid approach to look at each person's nutritional needs individually. After all, we are all genetically different, but nutrigenomics is in it's infancy. I agree that many people have subclinical deficiencies - heck, look at all of us. I also agree that static blood tests for many nutrients often provide little info. Some nutrients are tightly regulated by the body, like calcium, meaning that the body will maintain calcium levels by taking from the bone rather than allowing blood calcium to drop, so a calcium blood test will tell you nothing. Not true for something like Vitamin A - eat a bag of carrots and blood levels will reflect this, but again the blood test doesn't tell you much other than circulating levels.
It is a known fact that nutrient deficiences suppress immune function. I don't dispute that, but I wonder if it's a chicken/egg thing. If I had never consumed gluten, dairy, soy or other foods that cause an immune response in me, and ate a very nutritious diet, in theory I shouldn't have nutrient deficiencies or associated illnesses. On their website they promote a low inflammatory diet (but didn't talk about gluten, which is a glitch IMO), which I beleive is a valid concept, but I also believe that inflammatory response is also individual and may be genetically driven. Aren't we proof of that? That is why I am so interested in the MRT test - if I can identify foods that cause an immune response and design a diet that is oligoantigenic (low immune response) then again, in theory, my body will be functioning better and more able to absorb nutrients and stave off some illnesses. I am more of a "let's correct the underlying problem" person than a "let's treat the symptom" person.
In an ideal world we would have Dr. Fine, Signet Lab (MRT) and SpectraCell all work together to help identify foods we react to and then design a diet based on our individual deficiencies and needs. Until then I guess we have to piece it together ourselves.
Mary Beth
This really isn't my area of expertise . . . at this point I focus more on eating behaviors . . . more like "why did you eat the bag of Oreos instead of confronting your husband about his affair".
Seriously though, I did look at the nutition testing part of the site and found it interesting. I do believe it is a valid approach to look at each person's nutritional needs individually. After all, we are all genetically different, but nutrigenomics is in it's infancy. I agree that many people have subclinical deficiencies - heck, look at all of us. I also agree that static blood tests for many nutrients often provide little info. Some nutrients are tightly regulated by the body, like calcium, meaning that the body will maintain calcium levels by taking from the bone rather than allowing blood calcium to drop, so a calcium blood test will tell you nothing. Not true for something like Vitamin A - eat a bag of carrots and blood levels will reflect this, but again the blood test doesn't tell you much other than circulating levels.
It is a known fact that nutrient deficiences suppress immune function. I don't dispute that, but I wonder if it's a chicken/egg thing. If I had never consumed gluten, dairy, soy or other foods that cause an immune response in me, and ate a very nutritious diet, in theory I shouldn't have nutrient deficiencies or associated illnesses. On their website they promote a low inflammatory diet (but didn't talk about gluten, which is a glitch IMO), which I beleive is a valid concept, but I also believe that inflammatory response is also individual and may be genetically driven. Aren't we proof of that? That is why I am so interested in the MRT test - if I can identify foods that cause an immune response and design a diet that is oligoantigenic (low immune response) then again, in theory, my body will be functioning better and more able to absorb nutrients and stave off some illnesses. I am more of a "let's correct the underlying problem" person than a "let's treat the symptom" person.
In an ideal world we would have Dr. Fine, Signet Lab (MRT) and SpectraCell all work together to help identify foods we react to and then design a diet based on our individual deficiencies and needs. Until then I guess we have to piece it together ourselves.
Mary Beth
Hi Luce,
Interesting! YES, I would agree that any test that can further define and highlight LDL could be extremely important. Thanks for sharing.
Mary Beth and Luce,
I am envisioning that one day, when we perform newborn screening tests, the parents of each infant will receive a nutrigenomic profile with specific diet (and health) recommendations when they leave the hospital. Sigh.
Mary Beth,
Do you find it as interesting as I do that there is a new discipline that studies bacterial colonization of the body and the impact (think colitis for one) of disrupting it?
Love,
Polly
Interesting! YES, I would agree that any test that can further define and highlight LDL could be extremely important. Thanks for sharing.
Mary Beth and Luce,
I am envisioning that one day, when we perform newborn screening tests, the parents of each infant will receive a nutrigenomic profile with specific diet (and health) recommendations when they leave the hospital. Sigh.
Mary Beth,
Do you find it as interesting as I do that there is a new discipline that studies bacterial colonization of the body and the impact (think colitis for one) of disrupting it?
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Polly,
Yes, I do find it interesting. I am reading much more about the impact of dysbiosis in professional literature. The concepts of leaky gut and dysbiosis have been around for a long time and were dismissed as quackery. I can see why a new discipline is needed - it is imposible to keep up with, well, with anything, That has to be my biggest frustration with the field of nutrition - there is soooo much information and just when you think you got it down, it changes.
Take care,
MB
Yes, I do find it interesting. I am reading much more about the impact of dysbiosis in professional literature. The concepts of leaky gut and dysbiosis have been around for a long time and were dismissed as quackery. I can see why a new discipline is needed - it is imposible to keep up with, well, with anything, That has to be my biggest frustration with the field of nutrition - there is soooo much information and just when you think you got it down, it changes.
Take care,
MB