Question Re: mediator release testing (MRT) food sensitivity

cplate

Hello. I recently met with a nutritionist and she suggested a Mediator Release Testing program.
Has anyone had this done? Was it helpful? Did you have success with weight loss afterwards.

Background: I have been working on losing the last 10 pounds forever. I do realize that it will be slow going but I have been exercising faithfully and counting calories for a long time with limited gains. This test is pricey and just would like to hear some customer feedback if it was helpful.

Thanks in advance.

crazymom23boys1girl

Did you decide to have the test done, and if so, how did things work out? I met with a nutritionist last week who has recommended the same test to me. I think I am going to go ahead and have it done, because I really want to feel better, but I'm a little afraid of the outcome.

allyphoe

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20413700

A systematic review of the literature evaluating the validity of tests and procedures used in food reactions was performed using conventional search engines (eg, PubMed, Ovid) as well as consumer sites (eg, Google, Bing). The National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) term food hypersensitivity was used along with food allergy testing, food sensitivity testing, food intolerance testing, and adverse food reactions. Of the results obtained, testing for immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy was best represented in PubMed. IgE-based testing continues to be the gold standard for suspected food allergies. Among modalities used by many conventional and alternative practitioners, immunoglobulin G (IgG)-based testing showed promise, with clinically meaningful results. It has been proven useful as a guide for elimination diets, with clinical impact for a variety of diseases. Mediator release testing and antigen leukocyte cellular antibody testing were only represented on consumer sites. Further investigation into the validity and the clinical application of these tests and procedures is required.

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Food_allergy

The Mediator Release Test (MRT) is another test you'll only see promoted by "alternative" medicine vendors, like the LEAP program and some chiropractors. It tests your reaction levels to 250 foods by putting foodstuffs into samples of your blood and looking for immune cell responses. Several sites reference a "blinded peer reviewed scientific study" which showed MRT to have 94.5% sensitivity and 91.8% specificity. The study in question comes from the journal Przeglad Pediatryczny (1997, Supplement 1, pp. 61-65), published by the Polish Pediatric Association; this journal contains both original research and studies originally published elsewhere and is rather difficult for English speakers to track down. Even if the data are from a well-designed experiment with a large sample size, it might only mean that the test has a 90+% sensitivity and specificity to immune cell responses; how such responses correlate with actual food allergies or intolerances might not have been discussed at all.

toadqueen

I had the test done last Sept and was in phase 2 when hit by a car and almost killed. It was working for me. It identified foods identified from previous testing as well as new foods and chemical reactions. Last year I lost about 2-3 lbs per week and had more energy and less pain. I have fibromyalgia and hashimoto's thyroiditis and my nutritionist and I worked that into my diet. I've been eating everything since getting out of the hospital and just started back on Phase 1 last week. I've lost 6 lbs in 3 days without being hungry or exercising (I still can't because I am still recovering). I'm still very swollen and in pain but I think I am on the right path.
The test is expensive but I recommend it based on my experience. I am sensitive to both the foods I love and hate the most. So, I eat plenty of food I just like and I am less apt to overeat.
Good luck to all.

SLLRunner

toadqueen wrote: »

I had the test done last Sept and was in phase 2 when hit by a car and almost killed. It was working for me. It identified foods identified from previous testing as well as new foods and chemical reactions. Last year I lost about 2-3 lbs per week and had more energy and less pain. I have fibromyalgia and hashimoto's thyroiditis and my nutritionist and I worked that into my diet. I've been eating everything since getting out of the hospital and just started back on Phase 1 last week. I've lost 6 lbs in 3 days without being hungry or exercising (I still can't because I am still recovering). I'm still very swollen and in pain but I think I am on the right path.
The test is expensive but I recommend it based on my experience. I am sensitive to both the foods I love and hate the most. So, I eat plenty of food I just like and I am less apt to overeat.
Good luck to all.

But, food type has nothing to do with weight loss. Sure, if you're sensitive or allergic, you need to either moderate (example: I am lactose intolerant but I can eat yogurt, have very little trace dairy. Also soy intolerant, but eat foods with traces) and or cut it out.

From my own food allergies, I know I felt like I was dying with soy because I was nauseated and tired, therefore my activity level plummeted and I ate more, therefore I gained weight.

editorgrrl

cplate wrote: »

I have been working on losing the last 10 pounds forever. I do realize that it will be slow going but I have been exercising faithfully and counting calories for a long time with limited gains. This test is pricey and just would like to hear some customer feedback if it was helpful.

The less you have to lose, the more slowly it comes off. That's just the way the human body works. At your size, a healthy, sustainable loss is .5 lb. per week.

I don't know about that expensive test, but the advice in the Sexypants post is free—and it's worked for hundreds (if not thousands) of MFPers: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1