Can a Simple and Inexpensive Blood Test Predict Foods That Trigger Autoimmunity?

Scientists at Yale reported this Wednesday in the journal, NUTRITION & METABOLISM, in a paper entitled, A Leukocyte Activation Test Identifies Food Items Which Induce Release of DNA by Innate Immune Peripheral Blood Leukocytes, that the Alcat Test, a blood test for identifying patient specific reactions to foods and chemicals, may help doctors and patients unveil a hidden cause of autoimmune and other inflammation related conditions.

The scientists studied various immunological phenomena associated with cellular reactions measured by the Alcat Test, wherein a patient’s blood is exposed to specific food extracts and a sensitive instrument records innate immune cell responses. The Yale researchers, led by the late Dr. Ather Ali, ND, MPH, and Wajahat Mehal, M.D., Ph.D., had previously reported that diets determined by Alcat testing significantly reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). (bmjopengastro.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000164)

The investigators wondered if this improvement in IBS symptoms is linked to release of DNA from activated white blood cells. Numerous studies from various institutions have found that DNA released from activated immune cells trigger inflammatory responses.

The Yale team did find that positive Alcat reactions are associated with a greater release of DNA than are Alcat Test, “non-reactive” foods. They also identified the immunological pathway most involved, Protein Kinase C (PKC) as well as the primary cell type initiating the reactivity; the eosinophil. Activation of this cell type, and this pathway, are often associated with aberrant immune responses. Epigenetic studies show that foods modify gene expression and, quite possibly, the immune system can recognize foods that do so negatively.

The findings suggest that dietary triggers may play a role in wide ranging and disparate inflammation associated disorders; such as, multiple sclerosis, gastro enteropathies, asthma, arthritis, metabolic syndrome (obesity, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes) inflammation of the liver and other target organs, dementia, eczema, psoriasis, and eosinophilic esophagitis, to name a few.

With the costly and dramatic rise in recent years in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, for which there are many treatments, some having serious side effects, but very few real cures, an inexpensive preventive approach involving a scientifically directed personalized diet could provide a powerful adjunct to existing medical therapies.

The Alcat Test is manufactured and performed by Cell Science Systems, Corp. (CSS) at their laboratory in Deerfield Beach, FL. “The advantage of the Alcat Test is that it’s quick, simple, and inexpensive. It’s the only test for food sensitivities (not allergies, but, “sensitivities”) to have been clinically validated,” says Cell Science Systems’ CEO, Roger Deutsch. “Unlike genetic tests for dietary guidance, that provide only general information as to how someone may react to a particular food; or, antibody tests, which only show previous exposure to a food, but not active sensitivity, the Alcat Test shows a person’s actual, real time, biological cellular response to the foods in question,” he adds. “The results are much more accurate and have been confirmed by double blind challenges, the gold standard for this type of testing.”

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