What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
IBS is a common chronic condition that affects the large intestine. Symptoms include abdominal bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and constipation. The exact cause isn’t known, and there’s no known cure, but there are ways to help mitigate the symptoms. Many patients have found altering their diet to be effective in managing the condition.
How can IgG intolerance testing help IBS sufferers?
People with IBS often suspect they are intolerant to certain foods and can end up testing various elimination diets. This is what leads to initial research into using IgG antibodies to determine food sensitivities.
A 2013 study investigated the potential use of an elimination diet to help those with migraines and Irritable Bowel Syndrome to manage their symptoms better. The elimination diet was associated with overall reduced reaction count and improvement in symptoms.
This same study on IBS sufferers who also experience migraines found and IgG-based elimination diet to be quite effective at minimising symptoms of both conditions. Following the diet resulted in an improved overall quality of life.
“Our findings indicate that food elimination based on IgG antibodies in migraine patients who suffer from concomitant IBS may effectively reduce symptoms from both disorders, with a possible positive impact on the quality of life of the patients as well as potential savings to the health-care system.”
Another study – a randomised controlled trial – split 150 Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients into two groups. One group followed an IgG-based elimination diet, and the other followed a fake diet (eliminating the same number of foods). Foods to eliminate were identified through heightened levels of IgG (in the test group, not the control) and followed for three months. Patients who stuck to their elimination diets fully for the three months had an average 26% reduction in symptoms.
The research so far shows that an IgG food intolerance test can be a helpful guide in tailoring IBS sufferers’ diets to alleviate and manage symptoms. While more research is needed, it’s a promising start for those stuck with the incurable condition.
