One must clearly differentiate between allergies of type III and "classical“ allergies of type I. Both are caused by an immunological reaction but type III is mediated with IgG antibodies whereas type I is mediated with IgE antibodies.
Immune reactions of type III are delayed from 8 to 72 hours after eating. Thus it can happen that symptoms appear on Thursday and are caused by a food eaten on Monday. Such a delayed reaction ofter remains undetected for an entire life.
Type III allergies are characterised by inflammatory processes which can become chronic. It is estimated that 40% of the population in Europe and U.S. suffer from delayed food allergies. Many people are not aware of the fact that chronic health problems are often related to an allergic reaction against food.
It is important to distinguish between type I and type III allergies:
Allergy Type I |
Allergy Type III |
| Immediate reaction | Delayed reaction (several hours up to 3 days) |
| Acute | Chronic |
| Approx. 1-2% of adult population | Approx. 40% of adult population |
| Formation of IgE antibodies | Formation of IgG antibodies |
| Histamine release | Inflammatory syndrome |
Delayed Food Allergies May Cause Many Chronic Complaints
If the small intestine is damaged (i.e. by stress, infections and medicines), unusual food elements can reach the blood stream. Certain areas of these foods are recognized as “antigens” by the immune system and special IgG antibodies are formed against them. This leads to the development of immune complexes which can settle in different tissues, organs and vascular systems. Immune complexes are dissimilated by an inflammatory reaction. If this recurs frequently it can lead to a chronic process.
Many chronic complaints can be caused by such inflammatory reactions. If no cause is found for the inflammation by classical diagnosis, it is quite probable that certain foods could be the cause for some health problems such as:
- Chronic gastro-intestinal problems: Irritable bowel syndrome, Diarrhea, flatulence
-
Skin problems such as neurodermatitis
- High blood pressure
- Headaches and migraines
- Obesity
Gastro-intestinal Diseases
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and stress, for some people it can even be disabling. They may be unable to work, attend social events or even travel short distances. IBS is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists. Repeated studies indicate that there are various courses of the set of IBS symptoms. Therapy mostly consists of medication like stool softeners and laxatives that keep the symptoms under control. Since the set of symptoms is often linked to the consumption of certain foods, people affected with IBS often develop complicated diet plans that restrict them severely.
There is strong indication that some symptoms of IBS may be the result of a food allergy type III. If indeed there is an immune response to foods, these specific foods can be identified by an ELISA food allergy panel such as ImuPro300. An elimination diet on the base of the test result can substantially decrease symptoms of IBS. Following the nutritional guidelines, the patient can still have enjoyable meals.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. Most commonly it affects the lower part of the small intestine. It can occur in people of all age groups but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. Like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease can be both painful and debilitating, causing severe bouts of watery or bloody diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
Recent studies indicate that foods can cause such inflammations, e.g. by a delayed food allergy type III. A diet based on the elimination of such foods could supplement the standard drug therapy with anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids.
Obesity Testing
Obesity and adiposity can be triggered by metabolic disorders. A cause can be found in the fat tissue itself: Fat cells form messengers (TNF-alpha, Interleukin-6, Leptin) that stimulate the liver to produce inflammatory proteins. Thus an increase in weight can lead to a chronic inflammatory condition.
Type III delayed food allergies can enhance the inflammatory reactions. Since chronic inflammation causes or increases fat storage in fat and muscle tissue, a first step is to identify the respective foods by a blood test. An elimination of these foods can influence the inflammatory process positively and consequently lead to weight loss.
Ask your doctor about which ImuPro test would be the right diagnostic tool for you to detect possible delayed food allergies.