Living with a food intolerance or allergy can be a huge hassle. So it’s surprising how many people think they have sensitivities to certain foods — and alter their lives accordingly — when they really never did a single test to be sure of their convictions.

Some very real and potentially life-threatening food allergies appear to be on the rise. For example, a 2010 report comparing surveys of U.S. found a steady increase in allergies to peanuts and tree nuts in children. The reasons for the trend aren’t clear.

What is the difference between Allergy and intolerance?

Food intolerances occur in the digestive system, where, for various reasons, the body is unable to properly break down certain foods. That causes such symptoms as gas, bloating and diarrhea. Some of the more common culprits are sugars — specifically, lactose, found in dairy products, and fructose, found in fruit, honey, some vegetables and in some soft drinks and fruit drinks.

But not all intolerances cause digestive symptoms. For example, cheese, chocolate and wine can trigger migraine headaches in some people.

A food allergy is an abnormal response to food triggered by the immune system. Within minutes to hours of coming in contact with even a trace amount of something they’re allergic to, people might experience symptoms in their gastrointestinal tract (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), on their skin (itching, swelling, hives) and in their respiratory system (congested, runny or itchy nose; sneezing, coughing or wheezing). In some cases, an allergen — most often nuts — can trigger anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that happens quickly and can include swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness and loss of consciousness. Without immediate treatment — an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) and medical attention — it can be fatal.
While people with an intolerance to certain foods might get gastrointestinal or other symptoms, they can still eat them without serious consequences. Intolerances and allergies also differ in the way they progress. Intolerance to certain foods, including milk, becomes more common with age. In contrast, many food allergies are outgrown by adulthood, though nut, fish and shellfish allergies tend to persist throughout life.

A200 test

Allergic food hypersensitivity reactions are mediated by IgG antibodies to food proteins, and are commonly known as food intolerances.

These reactions are different to food allergy mediated by IgE antibodies, since the reaction is delayed without a clear cause and effect relationship, and the symptomatology is very diverse, moderate and chronic type.

The A200 Test determines the presence of IgG antibodies to over 200 proteins of foods of the Mediterranean diet. The Elimination of the diet of those foods with hypersensitivity provides a significant improvement in a high percentage of patients.

Around 20 to 35% of the population suffers from the effects of food hypersensitivity, prevention helps fight unwanted symptoms.

What does the The A200 analysis consist in?

The A200 analysis consists in determining IgG antibodies in serum, against more than 200 food proteins of the Mediterranean diet.

The analysis is performed by microarray technology, which enables duplicate determinations to be made. This makes the analysis more reproducible.

It is also a direct test of specific IgG quantification, and therefore more objective than other tests that assess the modification of the form of the leukocytes or make the analysis by bio-resonance.

Who can benefit from taking the analysis?

The A200 analysis is specially recommended in patients presenting some of the following symptoms:

• Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal swelling, nausea, acidity, ulcer and aphthae, gastritis, colitis.
• Dermatological processes: acne, eczema, psoriasis, urticaria.Neurological discomfort: headache, migraine, light-headedness, vertigo.
• Respiratory disorders: cough, bronchitis, asthma, rhinitis.
• Psychological problems: anxiety, depression, fatigue, hyperactivity.
• Muscle-skeletal disorders: pain, stifnessy, arthritis, fibromyalgia.
• Others: fluid retention and obesity.

Diet Restriction of food associated to abnormal IgG might lead to considerable improvement in a large proportion of patients. Therefore, the A200 analysis is an important option to consider if any of the above-mentioned commonly misinterpreted conditions are evident.