Food IgG Test

Food IgG testing

Molecular Diagnostic Services offers a Food IgG test using the latest technology.

About Food IgG Reactions

What Are Food IgG Mediated Reactions?

Food IgG reactions occur when the immune system identifies a harmless food protein as a threat, leading to the production of IgG antibodies. This immune response can result in inflammation and symptoms such as:

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome1–3
  • Migraines4,5
  • Crohn’s Disease6

Understanding Gut Health and IgG Reactions

  • Gut Barrier: Inflammation, infection, toxins stress, or repeated exposure to certain foods can compromise the gut lining.
  • Immune Response: A compromised barrier allows food components to enter the bloodstream, triggering IgG-mediated immune responses.
  • Inflammation: IgG antibodies form complexes with food proteins, leading to inflammation and delayed symptoms.

*Note: While Food IgG testing has been linked to chronic disorders in studies, it is not endorsed by some allergy associations.*

Figure showing a normal gut (left) and a leaky gut on the right as a result of a number of stressors.  Food components entering the blood stream resulting in an immune reaction.

The FOX Test

Why Choose FOX Food IgG Testing?

Our state-of-the-art test offers precision and insights:

Tests for 286 food antigens across major food groups.

*Image courtesy of MADX https://www.macroarraydx.com/products/fox

Key Benefits:

  • Quantifies IgG antibodies to multiple foods in a single assay.
  • Supports personalized dietary adjustments.
  • Simplifies the diagnostic process.

Clinical Applications:

  • Identification of IgG food reactions.
  • Elimination diets tailored to IgG responses.
  • Management of conditions like IBS, migraines, and Crohn’s Disease.

Types of Hypersensitivity Reactions

  • Allergic (IgE) reactions are type I hypersensitivity reactions8,9
    • These reactions are mediated by IgE antibodies
  • When exposed to an allergen (a molecule causing an allergic reaction) the body mounts an IgE mediated response
    • Clinical symptoms occur within minutes (<2 hours)
    • They range from mild (allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, atopic eczema and gastrointestinal) to severe (asthma, anaphylactic shock the most severe) 9
  • Food IgG reactions are type III hypersensitivity reactions
    • These reactions are mediated by IgG antibodies
  • The body mounts an IgG mediated response
    • Characteristically the response is delayed, symptoms occurring within hours to days 2,7

Summary table showing Food IgE Allergy vs. Food IgG Reaction

Diagnosing Food IgG Reactions

  • The diagnosis of an IgG food reaction and association with symptoms is made on the basis of a clinical and dietary history and examination combined with clinically guided diagnostic tests.
  • Food IgG tests, like the FOX test, test for hundreds of foods to provide more detailed information on a number of allergens in a single assay.
  • This helps you and your doctor create a more effective and individualised treatment plan to manage food related adverse symptoms.

FOX Antigen Summary (Concise List)

Cereals & Seeds
Amaranth, Barley, Buckwheat, Chickpea, Corn, Durum, Einkorn, Emmer, Gluten, Hempseed, Linseed, Lupine seed, Malt, Millet, Oat, Pine nut, Polish wheat, Poppy seed, Pumpkin seed, Quinoa, Rapeseed, Rice, Rye, Sesame, Spelt, Sunflower, Wheat, Wheat bran, Wheat gliadin, Wheatgrass

Coffee & Tea
Chamomile, Cocoa, Coffee, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Moringa, Peppermint, Tea (black), Tea (green)

Edible Mushrooms
Boletus, Chanterelle, Enoki, French horn mushroom, Oyster mushroom, White mushroom

Egg & Milk
Buffalo milk, Buttermilk, Camel milk, Camembert, Cottage cheese, Cow milk, Egg white, Egg yolk, Goat cheese, Goat milk, Gouda, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Quail egg, Sheep cheese, Sheep milk

Fish & Seafood
Abalone, Atlantic cod, Atlantic herring, Atlantic redfish, Carp, Caviar, Cockle, Common mussel, Crab, Eel, European anchovy, European pilchard, European plaice, Gilt-head bream, Haddock, Hake, Lobster, Mackerel, Monkfish, Noble crayfish, Northern pike, Northern prawn, Octopus, Oyster, Razor shell, Salmon, Scallop, Sepia, Shrimp mix, Sole, Squid, Swordfish, Thornback ray, Trout, Tuna, Turbot, Venus clam

Fruits
Apple, Apricot, Banana, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Cranberry, Date, Elderberry, Fig, Gooseberry, Grape, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Lemon, Lime, Lychee, Mango, Melon, Mulberry, Nectarine, Orange, Papaya, Passion fruit, Peach, Pear, Physalis, Pineapple, Plum, Pomegranate, Raisin, Raspberry, Red currant, Strawberry, Tangerine, Watermelon

Legumes
Green bean, Lentil, Mung bean, Pea, Peanut, Soy, Sugar pea, Tamarind, White bean

Meat
Beef, Boar, Chicken, Duck, Goat, Horse, Lamb, Ostrich, Pork, Rabbit, Stag, Turkey, Veal, Venison

Novel Foods
Almond milk, Aloe, Aronia, Baobab, Chia seed, Chlorella, Dandelion root, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Greater burdock root, Guarana, House cricket, Maca root, Mealworm, Migratory locust, Nori, Safflower oil, Spirulina, Tapioca, Wakame, Yacón root

Nuts
Almond, Brazil nut, Cashew, Coconut, Coconut milk, Hazelnut, Kola nut, Macadamia, Pecan nut, Pistachio, Sweet chestnut, Tigernut, Walnut
Spices
Anise, Basil, Bay leaf, Caraway, Cardamom, Cayenne pepper, Chili, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Cumin, Curry, Dill, Fenugreek, Ginger, Juniper berry, Lemongrass, Marjoram, Mint, Mustard, Nutmeg, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley, Pepper, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme, Turmeric, Vanilla

Vegetables
Artichoke, Arugula, Avocado, Bamboo sprouts, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Caper, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery bulb, Celery stalk, Chard, Chicorée, Chinese cabbage, Chives, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Garlic, Green cabbage, Horseradish, Kiwano, Kohlrabi, Lamb’s lettuce, Leek, Nettle leaves, Olive, Onion, Parsnip, Pok-Choi, Potato, Pumpkin, Radicchio, Radish, Red beet, Red cabbage, Romanesco, Savoy, Shallot, Spinach, Sweet potato, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, White asparagus, White cabbage, Wild garlic, Zucchini

Other
Agar agar, Aspergillus niger, Baker’s yeast, Brewer’s yeast, Elderflower, Honey, Hops, Meat glue, Cane sugar, Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants

References

  1. Guo, H. et al. (2012): The Value of Eliminating Foods According to Food-Specific Immunoglobulin G Antibodies in IBS. *Journal of International Medical Research*.
  2. Atkinson, W. (2004): Food elimination based on IgG antibodies in IBS: A randomized controlled trial. *Gut*.
  3. Vita, A. A., et al. (2022): Associations between food-specific IgG antibodies and intestinal permeability biomarkers. *Frontiers in Nutrition*.
  4. Alpay, K. et al. (2010): Diet restriction in migraines based on IgG against foods. *Cephalalgia*.
  5. Zhao, Z. et al. (2024): The Impact of Food Specific IgG Antibodies on Migraine. *Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases*.
  6. Bentz, S. et al. (2010): Clinical Relevance of IgG Antibodies against Food Antigens in Crohn’s Disease. *Digestion*.
  7. Crowe, S. E., Perdue, M. H. (1992): Gastrointestinal food hypersensitivity. *Gastroenterology*.
  8. Dramburg, S. et al. (2023): EAACI Molecular Allergology User’s Guide 2.0. *Pediatric Allergy and Immunology*.
  9. Janeway’s Immunobiology, 8th Edition.

How to test