What is IgG testing and is it a good tool for use with digestive disorder patients? On Instagram @AndreaHardyRD, I talk all about how important it is to critically review the evidence on IgG testing before considering it’s uses in patients with digestive disorder.
Good research STARTS with a hypothesis, or question.
BAD research starts with the outcome you want, and builds it’s study around trying to prove that outcome.
IgG test kits & research are unequivocally bad, in my opinion.
They’ve:
✖️developed and monetized a technology based on a theory
✖️sold it as a health promoting tool
✖️got called out on their bullshit
✖️and now has to back track to design studies to ‘prove’ its utility
????????????
There are better ways I can think of to spend $500 on your health.
Why?
???? IgG is an immune marker in your body. Everyone assumes you don’t want your immune system to ‘react’. Realty is, a functioning immune system requires the perfect balance of recognition and reaction.
????Allergies & sensitivities occur when you have something called a ‘loss of tolerance’ – meaning your immune system no longer recognizes that food antigen as safe.
????IgG antibodies play a CRUCIAL role in recognizing recognizing that food antigen – ‘immune tolerance’
???? so the measurement of IgG antibodies is a marker of immune tolerance and recognition, NOT a sensitivity
????the foods that will most often test highest are the ones we consume the most. This often validates the test in our minds
“of COURSE this makes sense, these are foods I eat all the time, no WONDER I’m sick” – is what I hear.
????In the 1 RCT on IgG & IBS (NOTE: not a great design, missed the mark in the discussion), a large portion of control patients responded to the sham diet. The placebo effect of dietary elimination, especially when you’ve paid a lot of money, is significant. Not to mention, when put on a restrictive diet, there’s often more whole foods, more eating at home, and better diet quality.
????I have yet to see an IgG test result that doesn’t eliminate wheat, milk, or legumes of some sort. Many foods eliminated are high FODMAP foods. Do we need to take a sledge hammer (and an extra $500) to kill a mosquito? probbbbbably not – we have a more tailored, less restrictive approach to manage IBS, that doesn’t require any expensive testing, called the low FODMAP diet!
So. Save your money folks. Skip IgG testing. ⠀
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