Food Allergies and Food Intolerance

Controversial Food Allergy Diagnostic Techniques continued...

An immune complex assay is sometimes done on patients suspected of having food allergies to see if there are complexes of certain antibodies bound to the food allergen in the bloodstream. It is said that these immune complexes correlate with food allergies. But the formation of such immune complexes is a normal offshoot of food digestion, and everyone, if tested with a sensitive enough measurement, has them. To date, no one has conclusively shown that this test correlates with allergies to foods.

Another test is the IgG subclass assay, which looks specifically for certain kinds of IgG antibody. Again, there is no evidence that this diagnoses food allergy.

Controversial Food Allergy Treatments

Controversial food allergy treatments include putting a dilute solution of a particular food under the tongue about a half hour before the patient eats that food. This is an attempt to "neutralize" the subsequent exposure to the food that the patient believes is harmful. As the results of a carefully conducted clinical study show, this procedure is not effective in preventing an allergic reaction.

Summary of Food Allergies

Food allergies are caused by immunologic reactions to foods. There actually are several discrete diseases under this category, and a number of foods that can cause these problems.

After one suspects a food allergy, a medical evaluation is the key to proper management. Treatment is basically avoiding the food(s) after it is identified. People with food allergies should become knowledgeable about allergies and how they are treated, and should work with their physicians.

Food Allergy Resources

Hotline

National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver
Nurses available to answer questions
800-222-LUNG
http://www.njc.org

Allergy Referrals

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
611 East Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
800-822-2762
http://www.aaaai.org/physref/

Extracts for Allergy Testing

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
800-835-4709
http://www.fda.gov/cber/index.html

Eczema

National Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
One AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
301-495-4484
http://www.nih.gov/niams

American Academy of Dermatology
930 N. Meacham Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
888-462-DERM
http://www.aad.org

Eczema Association
1221 S.W. Yamhill, Suite 303
Portland, OR 97205
503-228-4430

Lactose Intolerance and Celiac Sprue

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
Box NDDIC
Bethesda, MD 20892
301-654-3810
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/lactose/lactose.htm
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/celiac/index.htm

Food Contents

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Information Center
301-436-7725
http://www.nalusda.gov/fnic/index.html

Recipes

American Dietetic Association
216 W. Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
800-877-1600
http://www.eatright.org

Resources

Food Allergy Network
10400 Eaton Place, Suite 107
Fairfax, VA 22030
800-929-4040
http://www.foodallergy.org