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Food intolerance testing--worth it?

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Posted 9/26/2011 3:53 AM (GMT -8)
So one of my doctors recommended the ALCAT food intolerance/sensitivity testing because I keep having non-specific symptoms even though my UC is in remission (IBS, severe fatigue, headaches/migraines, nausea, dizziness, etc.). However, it costs $450...is it worth it to spend that much money, especially since there's no scientific evidence to back up the tests?
Posted 9/26/2011 5:39 AM (GMT -8)
I personally wouldn't spend that amount of $$$ on a food sensitivity test. It's a lot! If I were really interested in trying to figure it out, I'd just do a DIY test via strict elimination diet. Go for a week on only a few food items, then add things in slowly & write down any symptoms you notice. I'm not entirely sure what you'd eat at first, but I bet you can find a ton of info & suggestions on the internet about food elimination diets. Yes, it'd take a lot longer than a test, but think how much $$$ you'd be saving on groceries! Have you always had these symptoms, even before your UC was diagnosed?

Posted 9/26/2011 6:47 AM (GMT -8)
In my case having the celiac (gluten) and lactose (dairy) tests come back negative kept me from removing them from my diet and delayed my getting better by years. Once I removed these I started to get better.

The tests are more suited to healthier people with allergies IMO. My gut is wounded and is intolerant of these foodstuffs and the tests were not designed for my condition.

You can use an "elimination diet" to determine what foods your gut doesn't like. It takes weeks and discipline but is very, very valuable information and only you can do it to help yourself.
Posted 9/26/2011 10:31 AM (GMT -8)
I have to agree. I had the ELISA test, spent a ton of money out of pocket, and it was worthless. You're better off to try an elimination diet. You might also consider doing your own pulse testing to check for reactions. You can learn more about it here:
http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020108.coca.pdf
Posted 9/26/2011 1:33 PM (GMT -8)
I would go to an allergist and get tested...simple blood test. If you have decent insurance, it will be a lot cheaper...
Posted 9/27/2011 4:25 AM (GMT -8)
Eva Lou--no, I got all these symptoms a year or year and a half into my 2nd remission. The only problems I had pre-UC were allergies and menstrual issues, which got much worse after my 1st UC flare.

I've been mostly (couple of lapses b/c of work meetings) gluten free for the past week and a half. For the last 3 mornings, I've only had 1-2 formed BMs. I can't remember the last time I had formed BM's for more than one day at a time! It has to be at least a year and a half. I've also been less gassy and bloated.
If only my fatigue can improve now!

Sara--my old allergist said that he would only do food allergy testing if I kept track of my symptoms and what I ate...everything gave me loose BMs, fatigue, etc. My current allergist doesn't think food allergy testing will help. From what I've read, food allergy testing doesn't catch food intolerance/sensitivities--just allergies (based on the immunoglobulin response, I think).
Posted 9/27/2011 4:36 AM (GMT -8)
I am considering a food intolerance test. Where i live in York test seems the most complete.

But since at this moment i am under a restricted diet probably most of the results would be false. In order to get good results you need to include all those listed foods in your diet in the past 3 months before the test.

I took the longer road to an ellimination diet instead.
Posted 9/27/2011 4:45 AM (GMT -8)
I believe that regular food allergy tests are the IgE tests and food intolerance tests are the IgG tests, which are different. I got a IgG test and was positive for a whole mess of things, and I do think avoiding these things did help relieve my symptoms for awhile--I attribute my healthy 2nd pregnancy(i.e. minimal UC symptoms) to this. That being said, after about 3 years of avoiding these foods diligently, I kind of feel like my UC symptoms just came back anyway. So should you get the food intolerance test and pay all that money? Maybe. Sounds like avoiding gluten is already helping you, so maybe the elimination diet is the best choice for now.
Posted 9/27/2011 6:01 AM (GMT -8)
It depends.

How accurate is the test?
What foods/ingredients does the test cover?
Are you having trouble figuring out what foods/ingredients are bothering you?
Posted 9/28/2011 11:14 AM (GMT -8)
I spoke too soon about the good BMs! Although, in this case, I think broccoli was the culprit.

Not sure about the accuracy of the test (seems to be used by most alternative med docs in my area), it would cover "150 food panel and 20 food additives/colorings panel." Well, I can figure out foods are bothering me when it's obvious (mouth and throat burning after fresh fruits, diarrhea after eating mac & cheese, etc.). But I never would have guessed that gluten was a problem--I had IgG and IgA tests for Celiac done last year and they were strongly negative.

I'm just so tired all the time...I have no idea how I'm going to be able to work full-time starting next year. shakehead
Posted 12/27/2011 1:59 PM (GMT -8)

imagardener2 said...
In my case having the celiac (gluten) and lactose (dairy) tests come back negative kept me from removing them from my diet and delayed my getting better by years. Once I removed these I started to get better.

The tests are more suited to healthier people with allergies IMO. My gut is wounded and is intolerant of these foodstuffs and the tests were not designed for my condition.

You can use an "elimination diet" to determine what foods your gut doesn't like. It takes weeks and discipline but is very, very valuable information and only you can do it to help yourself.

The ALCAT test is a food sensitivity test, NOT a food allergy, or a test measuring IgE associated allergic responses. There is a difference. Yes, this test is expensive, it's unfortunate more people can't get it done, because I think it does work. I just started working for the R&D department of this company and had my blood drawn on my first day. My co-worker told me I might have to retake the test because for some reason I am reacting to A LOT of the foods. I never told them in my interview that I had Crohns! I can see why it's so expensive to get this stuff done because of what we do in the lab. We literally take apart EVERY SINGLE FOOD you can imagine, about 50 different chemicals/food additives, molds, everything you can possibly imagine we test for. We draw patients blood, and test it against ALL OF THOSE FOODS/CHEMICALS, depending on which panel you ordered (Most expensive panels test everything), and see what you are reacting too.

Here's one study supporting it's use.  http://www.alcat.com/Images/Pdf/The_Short_Term_Efficacy_of_the_ALCAT_Test.pdf

Now before any of you go about admonishing me for supporting these tests, recognize that I have Crohns and the reason I got into this field was to get into this stuff. I really do think it's helpful. At the very least GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION to be aware of the foods which you should be skeptical about.

Posted 12/27/2011 2:24 PM (GMT -8)
I went gluten free this last year and its made a huge difference. I've been lactose free most of my life.
I have found through trial and error what makes me feel worse/better regarding my diet. My GI team that I work with here at
the U of MN in Minneapolis have agreed that food allergy testing tells us very little in general.

Have you seen an endocrinologist for your fatigue? Tested for thryoid? Are you anemic?
Maybe skip the food allergy testing and get a complete workup in another area to look at reasons for fatigue!!

Also, have you looked into long term disability? I had short term turn into long term in November as I've been so sick since
June and haven't been able to take of myself, let alone my children and my JOB!! Luckily my husband and I have made it
work.....I take a lot of naps and rest most of the day. Some days I do better and can cook and clean, but then I need a nap.
I understand your fatigue, as most of us here would understand. Nap as much as you can.
Mary A.
Posted 12/27/2011 3:47 PM (GMT -8)
Before i even did a colonoscopy I got blood work done to see if I was gluten intolerant and I believe the results came back negative. Flash forward to before xmas break, I call my doc and ask if i can get a copy of the results just for record and the dumbass says he doesnt have record of me getting anything done!

Next week, i'm seeing my naturopath and hope to do food allergy testing once and for all.

Kind of makes you anticipate that "Oh maybe its a good thing if I have certain food allergies because this will make it easier with UC" but also "Great food allergies to wheat or dairy would truly suck :( "
Posted 12/27/2011 5:50 PM (GMT -8)
one thing you might take a look at are blood type diets - i had a food intolerance test done when i was first diognosed - then at some point later, i read about blood type diets - i discovered that both methods gave the almost same results - not exact, but enough to convince me of the validity of the test - and of course when i eliminate the nasty offenders, i feel tons better - im currently off all meds - just watching what i eat and take a good probiotic daily -
Posted 4/18/2014 9:43 PM (GMT -8)
My experience with ALCAT was underwhelming, at best. I'm glad my insurance covered it, is the best thing I can say. After 2 months of following it pretty darn closely, I simply don’t feel any better. And I’ve gained weight, as I am eating a lot of foods I don’t normally eat (beef, much more bread than normal). It’s a ton of work and all the food I’ve had to buy has been much more expensive. And hard to find! I’ve never spent so much time at different grocery stores trying to find products that have this and don’t have that. And it isn’t a magic bullet, because you still have to reintroduce certain foods after 3 months, than other foods after 6 months, and have to experiment with moving the 4 day rotation foods to every other day, etc. It’s seems to me that it is a basic elimination diet. It really didn’t tell me much, as I don’t feel any better. I think it’s time to punt and cut my losses of time and energy.
Posted 4/19/2014 4:22 AM (GMT -8)
ya, that whole thing sounds like WAY too much effort - not to mention, expense !
Posted 4/19/2014 11:53 AM (GMT -8)
Totally worth it for IBS symptoms like gas and bloating, which can feel absolutely horrible. I had no clue what I was eating that bothered me until I had the ELISA test panel. It only cost a couple of hundred dollars. I am intolerant of yeast, eggs, beans and some other stuff that was making me miserable.
Posted 5/10/2022 5:55 AM (GMT -8)
I have a customer that struggled for years with bad IBS. Since his 20s.
He’s in his 60s now.

He had the Alcat test several years ago.

Says it totally changed his life. Like a miracle. He stays completely away from the things the test said he is highly allergic to. And wham. No more IBS.

For example. He’s got Oregano on his definite no no list. He said he was constantly eating Italian food. The sauce. Took that out of his diet. Bam.
Immediate results.

I’ve had UC since 2016.

I’m seriously thinking about getting this test.
Yeah. It’s a lot of money. But. If it works. Well. To me. That’s worth it.

Some above say just do an elimination diet.
I mean, if Oregano was on MY bad list. Gosh. It would take me forever to figure that out.

Post Edited (Rusty Barr) : 5/10/2022 8:03:44 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/10/2022 8:19 PM (GMT -8)
I just want to add here that with IBD , food sensitivity/intolerance testing and elimination diets are only indicative to the point you are in this phase of your journey . You may not be able to tolerate a particular food because your body is no longer producing the particular digestive enzyme for it. This may change down the line depending on how your body heals or gets worse. Food allergy might be the better test in my opinion or just trying digestive enzymes and seeing if that helps you tolerate more variety in your diet.
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