Food and food-chemical sensitivities are a highly complex category of non-allergic (non-IgE), non-celiac inflammatory reactions. They involve multiple mechanisms and may be governed by either innate or adaptive immune pathways. They’re one of the most important sources of inflammation and symptoms across a wide range of chronic inflammatory conditions. They are also one of the most clinically challenging.
Due to their inherent clinical and immunologic complexities, as well as a lack of general knowledge within conventional medicine of their role as a source of inflammation in IBS, migraine, fibromyalgia, arthritis, GERD, obesity, metabolic syndrome, ADD/ADHD, autism, etc., food and food-chemical sensitivities remain one of the most under addressed areas of conventional medicine.
Clinical Complexities
Food and food-chemical sensitivities have clinical characteristics that make it very challenging to identify trigger foods. For example, symptom manifestation may be delayed by many hours after ingestion; reactions may be dose dependent; because of a breakdown of oral tolerance mechanisms, there are often many reactive foods and food-chemicals; even so-called anti-inflammatory foods, such as salmon, parsley, turmeric, ginger, blueberry, and any “healthy” food can be reactive.
Medical Conditions Where Sensitivities Can Play a Primary or Secondary Role
Gastrointestinal
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Functional Diarrhea
GERD
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Microscopic Colitis
Lymphocytic Colitis
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
Endocrine
Obesity
Neurological
Migraine
ADD/ADHD
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Epilepsy
Depression
Insomnia
Restless Leg Syndrome
Urological
Interstitial Cystitis
Gynecological
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Musculoskeletal
Fibromyalgia
Inflammatory Arthritis
Dermatological
Atopic Dermatitis
Urticaria
Psoriasis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Immunologic Complexities
Recent research into adverse reactions to gluten has uncovered a new form of diet-induced inflammation termed “non-celiac gluten sensitivity” (or GS). Gluten sensitivity is 6-8 times more prevalent than celiac disease, can provoke a wide range of clinical symptoms, and has been proven to activate the innate immune system, a branch of the immune system that has been almost completely neglected for years by researchers as a source of diet-induced inflammation and symptoms. But gluten is just one potential piece of the puzzle. As stated previously, any food can trigger an inflammatory response, even so-called anti-inflammatory foods. The key is to know which specific foods and food-chemicals are triggering reactions in each specific patient. That’s the beginning of the best way to design an eating plan that will produce the maximum clinical benefit.