Tex, just sharing so you can add these results to the list. This is good news for me, of course, though I've never seen a number as low as 1 for the 11 antigenic foods mean value. I know I'm not IgA deficient because my gluten number was 40 (tested around this time last year), but I was surprised to find no reaction to any of these foods given some trouble I've been having this summer after many months of near-normalcy and having been almost certain that beef and oats would show up at a minimum. But as we all know, lots of things outside of these 11 foods can provoke a flare.
Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 1 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)
Food to which there was no significant immunological reactivity:
Corn
Oat
Rice
Beef
Chicken
Pork
Tuna
Almond
Walnut
Cashew
White potato
Food to which there was some immunological reactivity (1+):
None
Food to which there was moderate immunological reactivity (2+):
None
Food to which there was significant and/or the most immunological reactivity (3+):
None
Additional EnteroLab results
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Fiona,
Wow! That sure is a low score for all those foods. If I were in that situation I would carefully check everything in my diet for the possibility of cross-contamination, or hidden gluten.
I suppose it's possible that your anti-gliadin test result might have been 400 if you didn't have a touch of selective IgA deficiency, but usually someone in that situation will show negative test results for everything (and both your anti-gliadin and anti-casein levels were positive). So you're probably correct that you don't have selective IgA deficiency.
One thing to keep in mind is that in order to keep the cost of the stool tests affordable, only a single antigen (the one that most people react to) for each food, is tested for antibodies. Virtually every food has multiple proteins, and therefore they have multiple antigens that can possibly cause reactions (wheat, barley, and rye, for example, together have around 300 reactive peptides that are known to cause reactions, but only antibodies for the alpha gliadin peptide found in wheat are detected during the test). As another example, antibodies to the most common reactive peptide in egg albumen is tested, but it's possible that someone might be sensitive to one of the proteins in the yolk, and not be sensitive to the main protein in the whites of eggs. It's not likely, but it's possible. Likewise for any of the other foods tested.
That's why Dr. Fine points out that a negative test result does not guarantee that one cannot react to any given food. IOW, we still have to listen to our body when it says that even though a food showed a negative test result, we might not be able to tolerate it, for some other reason.
I hope I haven't just muddied the waters.
Tex
Wow! That sure is a low score for all those foods. If I were in that situation I would carefully check everything in my diet for the possibility of cross-contamination, or hidden gluten.
I suppose it's possible that your anti-gliadin test result might have been 400 if you didn't have a touch of selective IgA deficiency, but usually someone in that situation will show negative test results for everything (and both your anti-gliadin and anti-casein levels were positive). So you're probably correct that you don't have selective IgA deficiency.
One thing to keep in mind is that in order to keep the cost of the stool tests affordable, only a single antigen (the one that most people react to) for each food, is tested for antibodies. Virtually every food has multiple proteins, and therefore they have multiple antigens that can possibly cause reactions (wheat, barley, and rye, for example, together have around 300 reactive peptides that are known to cause reactions, but only antibodies for the alpha gliadin peptide found in wheat are detected during the test). As another example, antibodies to the most common reactive peptide in egg albumen is tested, but it's possible that someone might be sensitive to one of the proteins in the yolk, and not be sensitive to the main protein in the whites of eggs. It's not likely, but it's possible. Likewise for any of the other foods tested.
That's why Dr. Fine points out that a negative test result does not guarantee that one cannot react to any given food. IOW, we still have to listen to our body when it says that even though a food showed a negative test result, we might not be able to tolerate it, for some other reason.
I hope I haven't just muddied the waters.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks, Tex, you haven't muddied the waters at all. In fact, that makes a lot of sense. I can tell you that I get loud, persistent and uncomfortable gurgles for hours, every time I eat beef. Doesn't matter if it's steak, hamburger, roast, etc., and I'm talking about the highest-quality pastured beef that I can get from the farmers' market and cook myself. So it makes sense that a different peptide than what is tested for may be my problem.
I will definitely take a closer look for hidden gluten-containing ingredients in my food. I thought I had a handle on that, but it's possible I got lax when times were good. As for cross contamination, my home isn't gluten free, but I do all the cooking and there's no wheat flour in the house. My husband has his cereals, bread, cookies, etc., so I suppose crumbs could be lurking, and I could've gotten lax about that as well.
In any case, thanks for your help.
Fiona
I will definitely take a closer look for hidden gluten-containing ingredients in my food. I thought I had a handle on that, but it's possible I got lax when times were good. As for cross contamination, my home isn't gluten free, but I do all the cooking and there's no wheat flour in the house. My husband has his cereals, bread, cookies, etc., so I suppose crumbs could be lurking, and I could've gotten lax about that as well.
In any case, thanks for your help.
Fiona
FWIW, I can't tolerate beef either. My reactions aren't as noticeable as yours, but bad enough that it gets the message across.
Wheat flour in the house is what cooked my goose. IMO, it's impossible to avoid cross-contamination with flour in the house.
Without any wheat flour in the house it's doable, as long as you're careful to wipe countertops, wash your hands (or use clean, plastic gloves), don't use contaminated utensils or the same toaster used for wheat bread, and keep the food separated at all times.
Tex
Wheat flour in the house is what cooked my goose. IMO, it's impossible to avoid cross-contamination with flour in the house.
Without any wheat flour in the house it's doable, as long as you're careful to wipe countertops, wash your hands (or use clean, plastic gloves), don't use contaminated utensils or the same toaster used for wheat bread, and keep the food separated at all times.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.