Information P88
Info for health care providers
Why food allergy and sensitivity testing?
Food allergies/sensitivities and gut health are inseparable.
An intestinal microbiota in balance and an intact intestinal barrier are fundamental for a well-functioning intestine. Only then, the intestine fulfils the various tasks such as absorption, defence, regulation of the mineral and electrolyte balance and production of enzymes, hormones, messenger substances and vitamins.
The intestinal mucosa forms the largest interface between our body and the outside world. Food allergies and sensitivities lead to inflammation at this large interface. As a result, the intestinal barrier is severely disturbed and its functions described above are severely impaired. Ongoing inflammation caused by food allergies leads to leaky gut. Leaky gut increases the possibility of further food allergies. A vicious circle!
The immune system becomes unbalanced, immune tolerance is impaired and can lead to a hyperreactive immune system. TH1, TH2, TH17 and Treg and thus also the formation of IL2, IL4, IL10 and IL17 get out of balance. This can lead to a variety of symptoms throughout the entire body.
Food allergy testing can help breaking this vicious cycle. When we can identify and eliminate the foods that provoke inflammatory reactions, the intestinal mucosa begins to heal, and the intestinal barrier will be restored.
Symptoms associated with reactions to food:
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Refulx
- Rash, eczema, hives
- Recurrent infections
- Depressions
- Migraine
- Flatulence
- Poor absorption of vitamins, etc.
- Joint pain
- Exhaustion, poor sleep
- Weight gain
- Autoimmune diseases
P88 IMMUNE INDEX
Common Allergy or Sensitivity testing only looks at one way the body reacts to foods. However, there are multiple ways the immune system responds to antigens, so unless you measure multiple reactions or antibodies, you will miss foods a patient reacts to.
The P88 DAT looks at four immune reactions, including IgE (Allergies) IgG (Sensitivities) as well as IgG4, and C3d, all specific to eighty-eight foods. Then, based on each antibody type and their level of reaction, a calculation is done to give the patient their overall reactivity to each food. The P88 DAT Report shows the level of reaction based on each antibody, but then also gives a cumulative score which we named P88 Immune-Index.
The P88 Immune Index gives the practitioner a sliding scale to remove as many or as few reactive foods as needed from the diet based on their relative level of reaction.
In addition, rather than basing results on just one type of immune reaction, you are basing it on all types combined.
What are we testing for?
Our immune system protects our body from external attacks and foreign structures. When your body reacts to foods withfood allergies and sensitivities, the immune system reacts incorrectly to certain foods by forming antibodies. The P88 Food Antigen Test measures four of these defensive reactions:
Immunoglobulin E provokes immune reactions of the immediate type. Immediately and up to half an hour after contact with the allergen, symptoms such as swelling, hives, flushing or difficulty breathing occur. In severe cases, IgE reactions lead to anaphylactic shock.
Immunoglobulin G subtype 4 is fundamentally different from immunoglobulin G1, G2 and G3. IgG4 can reduce histamine secretion in an immediate allergic reaction by inhibiting the binding of IgE to the receptor. It is precisely this mechanism that is used in hypo sensitization. The hypo sensitization therapy does not reduce IgE but increases the IgG4 titer. A IgG4 titer equal or higher than IgE leads to immune tolerance. Unlike IgG1-3, IgG4 has only a very weak affinity to complement and effector cells. So, IgG4 itself is much less inflammatory than IgG1-3. Because of its special characteristics, it makes sense to measure IgG4 separately. (In addition to IgG total and IgE! – As explained above the solely determination of IgG4 is not sufficient.)
Though IgG4 does not always result in a negative prognosis, with certain conditions, higher levels of IgG4 can be harmful. IgG4-RD (IgG4-related diseases) can affect various tissues, including the esophagus, lymph nodes, and pancreas, as well as hormone-producing tissues such as the thyroid, ovaries and prostate.
Because of its special characteristics, it makes sense to measure IgG4 separately.
Measuring IgG4 and IgE together provides a picture of immune tolerance. Foods for which immune tolerance is detected do not then need to be unnecessarily eliminated from the diet.
In cases of existing IgG4-associated diseases, eliminating IgG4-positive foods can have a beneficial effect.
IgG4-Related Diseases (IgG4-RDs):
Unlike IgE, the symptoms of IgG reactions do not appear until 3 to 72 hours after contact with allergens, making it difficult to identify the foods in question. In addition, the symptoms differ greatly. Food sensitivities are more subtle and range from fatigue to headaches, nausea, seizures, hyperactivity, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and mood swings. The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. IgG antibodies have a significantly longer half-life than IgE antibodies. The non-specific symptoms are often not associated with food sensitivities for years or sometimes a lifetime.
Numerous studies show the improvement of symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome, ADHD, and rheumatoid arthritis when IgG-positive foods are eliminated from the diet over a period of time (depending on the level of the IgG titer).
With the P88 DIY food antigen test, IgG-positive foods are reliably detected.
Complement, a plasma protein, is part of the innate immune system. Normally it is activated by microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, yeasts, parasites). However, complement activation can also be caused by food allergens. Through complement, an IgG immune reaction can be increased 1000 to 10000 times. A moderate IgG immune reaction to a food with the presence of complement will therefore produce significantly stronger symptoms than a strong IgG immune reaction without the presence of complement. Only if you know both values, it is clear which foods trigger the strongest inflammatory response.
Complement is degraded into different fragments. One of them is C3d, which is stable and easily measurable.
The P88 DAT is the only test that additional to IgG also measures Complement C3d. Tests that only measure IgG may miss the reactions to foods that are most clinically relevant.
Conditions associated with Complement (C3d):
Which foods are tested?
How can I order the P88 DIY?
Sie sind TherapeutIn? Sobald Sie sich regeistriert haben können Sie den P88 DIY in Ihre Praxis oder direkt für einen Patienten bestellen,
Are you a patient without a practitioner? Contact us — we’ll be happy to help!
