Food intolerance testing from hair.

Personally I m very sceptical and if this kind of test was that good the medical world would be using it
Gluten seems to be a BIG problem for a lot of people so they probably put that on everyone’s list ( fairly safe to be right then) however even without the test it would be useful for your daughter to cut gluten out for a month and see if there’s any improvement

I thought as you do BlueBelle, but her DH had his done, which didn't flag up gluten. For him it was pork/bacon products, which he had noticed upset his stomach. DD did try cutting out gluten for a while in the past, but I don't think she gave it enough time. She is getting desperate now so will try again.

I have read that journalists sending samples of their hair to different laboratories have received list of food stuffs that it is claimed they are allergic to, that are entirely different from one company to another.

If your DD wants to go down this route why not get your GP to refer you to a medical allergist, either under the NHS or privately. DGD and DDiL who both have allergy problems were assessed by the allergist at their local hospital.

The other thing to do is run her own elimination trial. Remove food groups, one at a time; dairy, gluten, etc etc for a fortnight and then introduce them back slowly and see if her symptoms improve with elimination and deteriorate when she starts eatingthem again.

Maybe keep a food diary? And list her reactions to different foods?
I am usually pretty unwell with certain bread products, but I read somewhere that it’s likely to be the fertilisers and various crop sprays that we are intolerant too, not the Gluten.
Not that this helps, I need to try to eat only organic bread products and see if that helps when we return from our holiday, as when I am abroad I can tolerate bread quite well.
I too have heard that different screening companies give different results.
As Monica says it’s easier to do a food trial ourselves than wait around for the Doctor.

Here's a quote from an American scientific paper about testing for food allergies or intolerances by analysing hair.

Hair sampling is a safe and noninvasive method of revealing nutritional deficiencies.Reality: Hair is made up of a protein, keratin, that can be analyzed to determine its mineral content. That data can be used to find out if the body is lacking in certain minerals, but it can't tell you whether you have food intolerances, allergist Lee Freund wrote in "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Food Allergies." Double-blind studies haven't shown any diagnostic value for this test.
You can test for drug abuse using hair, but you need the hair follicle.
Hope this is helpful.

Thankyou, HjJ. That confirms my doubts!

I think the food diary is a much better idea.

I have read that many of these food intolerance/allergy tests are worthless. If someone is going to eliminate certain foods from their diet they must be sure that it is necessary to do so.

Try reading up about FODMAPs. This is advice on what to avoid if you are suffering from IBS

My DD (38) had suffered for years with bad stomach pains and bloating, since being a little girl, and no Dr or hospital tests had shown anything. In desperation she went to a recommended kinseologist and after her consultation, she was told it was a severe gluten intolerance. DD is also a veggie and was told that peppers were also causing her issues. She now has a gluten free diet, no peppers ! And she is the best she has been in her whole life.

I had all these symptoms and some others for many years - eventually I went to a private doctor who recommended me to a specialist - none of this was cheap of course - but the specialist discovered that the enzyme in my stomach that controls histamine was not working - my body was inflamed throughout , he put me on a histamine intolerance diet which was dire, but it solved all the problems - it might be worth her googling histamine intolerance - I can eat normally now , although I do have histamine diet days when I have overdone it - I hope this might help her.

Shysal, I sympathise as I've been through a similar performance. Still get erratic bowel movements and acid reflux. As well as taking an H2 blocker for the reflux I also take pure Aloe Vera gel and make my own kefir.
My doctor has also done a blood test to rule out ovarian cancer which often has similar symptoms. Ask her to speak to GP about that too, just to be on the safe side.
As far as intolerances go, it could be anything or nothing. I'm also trying A2 milk at the moment to see if it makes a difference. Good luck.

I have used York Test Laboratories to diagnose and monitor a dairy intolerance over the past five years or so. They use blood sampling, www.yorktest.com/

However according to The Guardian its all rubbish: www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/04/bogus-allergy-tests-causing-real-harm-say-experts

I have vastly improved my symtoms of intense muscle pain and stomach upsets, but this could either be from cutting out dairy, or it might be due to retiring and dramatically reducing my stress levels. Either way eating no dairy (which means cutting out cake, confectionery, creamy sauces, butter, milk etc etc) makes it remarkably easy to manage your weight. The thought of having to endure numerous trips to the loo makes a slab of chocolate cake look vastly less appealing.

I am coeliac so feel concerned that this is often not diagnosed properly. It cannot be diagnosed with a scan or colonoscopy. You need to check whether she has had the right blood test and gastroscopy. It is very important to keep eating plenty of gluten until after the tests. If she is not sure what tests have been done then she should check with her GP. Good luck with a proper diagnosis.

Like Skysal Dd I was in constant pain, had all the same tests, nothing. I found out my dire pain was a simple thing like artificial sweeteners. I noticed that I didn’t have this pain one year while I was away and artificial sweeteners were not available or in the drinks. Problem solved and worth a try.

My son sees a consultant in gastric enterology clinic-she said these tests are useless-and dont show true results.get your hubby to gp for referral to a gastro clinic.

Try Fodmap diet. I have had IBS for years and this has really helped. Lots of research and science behind it. I found fructose, lactose and gluten make me worse. Just changing to lactose free milk has made a huge difference as I drink so much tea. My dr recommended the diet. So not a fad!

I have suffered for a couple of years with IBS type symptoms. My SIL was diagnosed with carpel tunnel syndrome on her wrist (she’s a Morris dancer ?) and was due to have an op. Then someone recommended an acupuncturist - she went to him and in addition to acupuncture itself, he recommended a sugar and dairy free diet. Two months later the hospital said she no longer needed the op. I was impressed so I went to see him too. The acupuncture sessions, though not cheap, are very relaxing - and U too have given up dairy and sugar as much as I can. Good improvement! Sorry, that doesn’t answer your question about tests! Worth looking at alternative therapies though?

Could it be endemetriosis or polycystic ovaries?

Sorry your DD-i misread at beginning.the gastroenterology is to be trusted.its a way to con money to say they can do tests via hair or else consultant would have done them for my son;who didnt want blood tests of any kind.(hes 14)but he had blood tests then a camera down to investigate.but most dont need that.they do skin tests also.

What sort of pain and where is it? Does it occur after eating or after specific foods have been digested.
Maybe your DD could keep a diary for a week or two, listing what she ate and when and separately, when pain occured and for how long.
Does she have GORD?

shysal - she needs to be very analytical herself. Have they ruled out anything physical - hiatus hernia for instance? Is there any pattern at all to her pain? Worse or better at certain times etc. I had 'knock you over' 4 day migraines for years. Daughter rebounded home (had done nutrition degree while away). She saw the pattern and said try cutting wheat (it is a common sensitivity) - I said rubbish been eating it all my life. She was right - changed woman. I had been thinking it related to tiredness - it did but only as on busy days one gets by on toast, cake, biscuit. So it can be tricky to sort. Also can be deficiency in stomach acid (try glutamine for that). You can help your doctor but by no means expect them to be expert in these things. And of course there is the menstrual aspect too. Wishing her well.

I think one of the problems with IBS is that it is often not one single food that is the problem but a combination can cause trouble. I also think in women the monthly cycle comes into it. Why not cut out gluten for a while, keep a list and see if there is any improvement, obviously going back to the Doctor if things get worse. I have been a lot better since taking calcium and vitamin D tablets no idea why probably all the chalk!

I agree with Saxifrage. If she hasn't already had this done she should ask her doctor to refer her for correct testing to see if she is a Coeliac. I have two in my family, one of whom has only just been diagnosed after years of pain and discomfort.
If she is one, then modern products mean a far more variable and palatable diet than in the past.
I hope she finds out what it is that is causing her problems.

Saxifrage is right in that a blood test for coeliac disease will not show up a gluten intolerance if you avoid eating gluten. So, unfortunately, you have to eat gluten-rich foods for at least the two weeks leading up to a blood test.

If she is an undiagnosed coeliac then an endoscopy could show up whether or not the villi in the small intestine have been destroyed (they should grow back if a gf diet is maintained).
But do suggest to her to ask the GP to do a range of blood tests.