Surprising Information About "Gluten Testing"

Post by **tex** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:02 am

Hi all,

I received a prompt response this morning, from Phyllis, the Clinical Manager at Enterolab, and it confirmed my suspicions about "gluten" testing. All along, we have just assumed that when a "gluten" antibody test was performed, it would cover antibodies to all reactive prolamins. IOW, we have assumed that those tests not only covered antibodies to the gluten in wheat, but also antibodies to hordein, (the reactive prolamin in barley), and secalin, (the reactive prolamin in rye), and avenin, (the reactive prolamin in oats).

Well, I'm glad that I investigated this, because it turns out that we were dead wrong with our assumptons. The tests only detect antibodies to gluten, (specifically wheat gluten). They do not detect antibodies to hordein, secalin, nor avenin.

This means that if you, for example, are reacting to the ingestion of barley, a gluten antibody test will not detect it - likewise for rye, and/or oats. I find it interesting that no one has pointed out this discrepancy previously, at least, I've never seen or heard about it. Now, this information is in regard to the stool tests, but I have no doubt that if the stool tests won't detect those antibodies, then the blood tests most certainly won't detect them either.

At any rate, I'm glad that this misinformation by omission has been cleared up. I've wondered for a long time why everyone in the trade always refers to it as "gluten" antibody testing, but always seemed to imply that antibodies to the other prolamins were also included in the tests . It turns out that "gluten" is exactly correct terminology, in this case, and implications of additional coverage, are inappropriate.

So whadda ya think about that, fellow students of "gluten" sensitivity?

Love,
Wayne

P S Enterolab is sponsoring an upcoming "Gluten-Free Family Camp". Phyllis says that they are getting close to their maximum number for the camp, so if you are interested in attending, please contact Anna Ashworth, their camp coordinator, ASAP, at the email address provided below.

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The Intestinal Health Institute is pleased to announce our second annual
“Get On A Mission Of Nutrition” ™ Gluten-Free Family Camp
July 1st – 6th in Jemez Springs, NM. For more information please visit
http://www.intestinalhealth.org/Camp or email us at camp@intestinalhealth.org.

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harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:56 pm

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle....

I have not had Dr. Fines stool tests done yet, working towards that though for the sake of my children really.

For anyone interested, while doing some research about his gluten sensitivity testing I came across this which explains (in detail) more about that procedure, technical though.

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6667160.html

Love,
Joanna

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:54 pm

Hey all

The grain , protein connection once again backs up the work of Cordain, Eades and Lewey as far as IBD’s are concerned.

With the risk of being repetitive , one of the very nicest things I did for my health and well being was to eliminate all grains and then to discover that I did not need them to be healthy and energetic.

Matthew

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:27 am

Well that is a really interesting thing to hear. I am with Matthew in eliminating all grains too. I held onto rice for a long time but have not eaten it since I went Paleo. The Paleo has been quite an experience for me and since having my teeth done, I have had to do yogurt for breakfast as the easiest thing that is edible. I am very slowly recovering from the dental experience and the plate will be lined soon and then hopefully the rubbing and irritation will be gone. In the meantime I am as Paleo as I can get.

Love, Maggie