TITLE:
Improving quality of life in self-reported gastrointestinal disorders: An open trial of a food elimination diet guided by the ImmunoBloodprint food sensitivity test
AUTHORS:
Judi M. Woolger, Johanna Lopez, Angelica B. Melillo, Eduard Tiozzo, Yaima Alonso, Soyona Rafatjah, Amine Sarabia, Susanna M. Leonard, Evan G. Long, Michael Schoor, Jared Tannenbaum, Janet Konefal, John E. Lewis
KEYWORDS:
GI Disorders; Food Sensitivity Testing; Elimination Diet; Food Intolerance; IBS-36; SF-36
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Internal Medicine,
Vol.3 No.3,
September
16,
2013
ABSTRACT: Purpose: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastrointestinal
(GI) disorders are genuine health problems that have serious consequences on a
patient’s quality of life (QoL). IBS is a functional disorder characterized
by chronically recurring symptoms, including abdominal pain or discomfort,
altered stool frequency and consistency, and abdominal bloating in the absence of structural or biochemical abnormalities. Studies have indicated that symptoms and disability related to IBS and GI
disorders correlate with QoL measures. Additionally, those who respond to
therapy have an improvement in QoL. Therefore, we explored an open trial of a
food elimination diet guided by the ImmunoBloodprint food sensitivity test and
its effect on QoL in patients self-reporting an unresolved GI disorder. Methods:
Eighty-four subjects aged 18 and above participated in the study. Subjects
eliminated all IgG-mediated reactive foods from their diet for 90 days. QoL was assessed with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome-36 (IBS-36) and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) at
baseline and 30-, 60-, and 90-day follow-up. The data were analyzed with linear
mixed models. Results: Subjects had statistically significant improvements in
all indicators of QoL according to the IBS-36 and SF-36 from baseline to 90- day
follow-up. Conclusions: Subjects with unresolved self-reported GI disorders
were able to improve all indicators of QoL in response to eliminating IgG- reactive
foods from the diet. Given the inconvenience of keeping track of foods and
symptoms to eliminate intolerant foods, a food sensitivity test combined with an
elimination diet may be an effective method for improving subjective markers of
QoL and health.