Allergic conditions are incredibly common, incorporating conditions like asthma, eczema, food allergy, hay fever, and anaphylaxis, under a broad umbrella term. Nearly 32% of U.S. adults and 30% of U.S. children report having some form of allergic-type symptoms, resulting in more than 100 million people in the United States alone presenting with these concerns to their healthcare providers (1). Individuals with these symptoms tend to do their best to avoid known allergens, but sometimes the triggers aren’t as clearly known.
Integrative practitioners are known for discussing the importance of reducing the burden of inflammation on the body. Frequently, one of the first recommendations is to reduce or entirely remove allergens and/or sensitivities — especially related to food — to minimize inflammatory reactions in the body. Some of these triggers are more obvious, such as in true allergies (those mediated by IgE, type 1 hypersensitivity reactions), while others are more vague and delayed, as in sensitivities (those mediated by IgG). When it comes to reducing inflammatory load, both are important to discern and avoid.
IgE reactions, as stated are also referred to as type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. When these occur, the IgE antibodies bind to immune blood cells (mast cells and basophils) resulting in the release of histamine and other molecules that cause mild to severe physical symptoms - ie. Rash, itching, swelling, shortness of breath, anaphylaxis, etc (2). Generally, these aren’t dose dependent reactions; even a small amount of exposure can result in severe symptoms within minutes. Ultimately, this is why these types of allergies are easier to pinpoint and ultimately avoid, but that doesn’t mean people do. Mild reactions frequently go ignored, leading to repetitive activation of this immune pathway, with concern that this would lead to chronic inflammatory symptoms. Therefore, when dealing with chronic inflammation and related conditions, these are the first to remove from the environment or diet.
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IgG reactions are a bit different and harder to figure out. This is frequently where testing is recommended, as other avenues of discernment are difficult and time consuming. IgG-mediated food intolerance is thought to be caused by increased gut permeability (“leaky gut”), which allows microscopic food particles to enter the blood stream, come in contact with immune cells, trigger antibody production, and ultimately result in the reduced production of anti-inflammatory modulators. The resulting symptoms tend to be less specific, ranging from typical allergy-type rashes to gastrointestinal symptoms such as IBS-type symptoms to neurological symptoms like migraines or fatigue (3). Due to the slow nature of these reactions, individuals tend to repeatedly be exposed, resulting in continual activation of this immune pathway. Additionally, the noticeable symptoms of this response tend to be dose dependent, with only a cumulative effect causing discomfort.
Ultimately, as these immune reactions occur they contribute to the overall inflammatory load on the body. Some studies have even shown some relationship between IgG antibody load (specifically eggs) in children and the development of asthma, though the results did not appear causal (3). Others have shown high levels of specific-IgG in children is seen in those with eczema, specifically to eggs, milk, and other food allergens (4). Therefore, teasing out these triggers becomes important to any individual suffering from an allergic-type disease or immune mediated condition (such as autoimmune conditions). The hope is that once these triggers are removed, the immune system can dial down its activation, resulting in less inflammation and therefore less presenting symptoms.
At AYUMETRIX, we provide an incredibly comprehensive IgG food sensitive panel including 240 common foods seen in the typical diet. Results indicate the severity of immune response, giving patients and practitioners immediate guidance on how to tackle complicated conditions influenced by allergy or sensitivity,. For more information or sample test results please visit our website at www.ayumetrix.com.
