IBS improvement seen after food intolerance testing and probiotic therapy

We are so excited to bring to you one of the first studies of its kind. It appeared in the Winter issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of the American College of Nutrition, published by the organization that certifies me as a Nutrition Specialist. Note: it is a small study (twenty subjects), but the results were so dramatic that its significance will reverberate throughout the medical community that has for so long shunned food intolerance testing, and reaffirms what we have been doing at Nutritional Concepts for over a decade.

The twenty subjects in this study had all failed to reduce their Irritable Bowel Sydrome symptoms using the standard therapies such as anti-cholinergics, anti-spasmodics, anti-diarrheals, and serotonergic agents.

The researchers hypothesized that identifying and removing trigger foods that create inflammation (IgG) in the gut, in addition to balancing the gut microfloral environment, would reduce the IBS symptoms. Their "hypothesis" paid off.

After using food sensitivity blood testing almost identical to the testing that Nutritional Concepts' uses, the subjects were asked to the eliminate the foods that were discovered to be the strongest agitators. The most frequent positive reactions found in the subjects were (dairy does not appear because all subjects had removed dairy from their diets prior to participating in this study):

4 or more molds - 70%
Baker's yeast - 85%
Onion mix - 65%
Pork - 60%
Peanut - 60%
Corn - 55%
Wheat - 50%
Soybean - 50%
Carrot - 45%
Cheddar Cheese - 40%
Egg White - 40%

After testing each subject's microflora via comprehensive stool analysis, it was discovered that 100% of the subjects exhibited deficiencies of beneficial flora. They were put on high dose, broad-spectrum probiotic supplements.

The subjects were retested at six months and one year.

Diarrhea, a dominant symptom in the subject cohort, was drastically reduced after food elimination and probiotic supplementation. Daily stool frequency was also reduced from 4.29 to 3.43.

Pain frequency (1 - no pain to 5 - severe pain) resulted in significant improvement from 3.65 to 2.71.

Subjects also reported significant improvements in interference with activity, body image, health worry, social reaction, sexual function, and relationships.

Researchers also found significant colonization of beneficial microflora after supplementation.

The authors of this study note that the medical community's reticence concerning IgG testing should be challenged and re-evaluated as a result of these findings.

Bonnie - I am so proud of the University of Kansas researchers who had the guts to perform this study. The study's design is very similar to how we have treated clients with IBS and other digestive ailments when food intolerance is suspected. Of course, the results of the study are also very similar to what we see with clients who follow our suggestions. The authors did note that food elimination diets are extremely time consuming for the patient and practitioner. This is probably why many patients and practitioners do not engage the paradigm. It is not sexy, but very effective. As the authors said, patients and practitioners with high degrees of motivation to improve get results.