Re: LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing?

October 19, 2011

What is food sensitivity? Don't remember that from school. Sounds bogus

________________________________________

From:

[ ] On Behalf Of Lynn Ho

[lynnhri@...]

Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 7:31 AM

To: practiceimprovement1

Subject: LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing?

Does any one do this and is it worthwhile?

I looked it up but there certainly is lot of marketing to sift through

up to date does not recommend these

A patient is asking me to order this.

thanks!

Lynn

October 19, 2011

I actually do send people for this to a local dietician who specialized in it. At first I really thought it was stupid, but the results my patients got were enough to convince me. People who were anxious or depressed, and the medicine never did quite enough for them, found out they were sensitive to milk or corn, and the drug was made with these powders, change to a drug without, much better. Also great for vague joint pain, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, and recurring rashs, and of course, IBS and other bowel problems. Since it is focusing on reducing inflammation in the gut, it seems to also then lower their blood sugar, and cholesterol, as part of the inflammatory response. It is very hard to follow the plan, and you must have a dietician for the first 5-6 wk, before they really can get a wider variety of food. I became such a convert I did it myself, and for one son. Had 10 red or high sensitivity foods and over 30 yellow, moderate, retested in a year, after moderate compliance ,and now have only 2 reds, and about 10 yellows, some of which were foods I "overate", everyday, because they were okay, and tasted better than whatever else I was allowed. I don't send people, without them being really committed, ,and warn them it will be hard, o/w it's a waste of money, and time.

Cote' MD

To: practiceimprovement1 Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 8:31:38 AMSubject: LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing?

Does any one do this and is it worthwhile?I looked it up but there certainly is lot of marketing to sift throughup to date does not recommend theseA patient is asking me to order this.thanks!Lynn

October 19, 2011

It isn't testing for allergy, it is testing for food reaction of inflammatory response, looks at mast cell mediators, etc. And it works, by the way, did any of you learn about atypical anti-depressants for depression, etc. Things do change as science moves along. The proof is in patient results.

CCoteMD

To: Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 9:49:24 AMSubject: RE: LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing?

It is bogus. Tests for allergy markers that simply show that the immune system recognizes food proteins. Has not been shown to predict allergic reactions, and has poor correlation with clinical outcomes.

Costs $500.00.

If you are worried they might have a sensitivity to a food, putting them on an elimination diet is a much more direct way to tell if they do.

Highly promoted by alternate care providers, who will show immune recognition of foods in most all human beings, and then charge the patient for dietary counseling on how to avoid the foods.

dts

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Lynn HoSent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 6:32 AMTo: practiceimprovement1 Subject: LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing?

Does any one do this and is it worthwhile?I looked it up but there certainly is lot of marketing to sift throughup to date does not recommend theseA patient is asking me to order this.thanks!Lynn

October 19, 2011

You guys are such a great community!You've actualized pretty much the entire dialog that I had in my brain and it is so empowering to see it on paper.reading the posts, I worked through to a practical conclusion - I'll tell the patient I don't know if it is really efficacious - may or may not be, nor if it's paid for by her insurance - may or may not be, but will be willing to order it through her nutritionist.If she still wants it then we can get it.If it helps her, great. If not ? well then, I guess empirically there's one on the "did not work in this case' side.But the lesson for me is really the around the strength of this group as a resource for each other - we are not alone.Thanks as always.LynnTo: From: glseto@...Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:43:56 -0700Subject: Re: LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing?

I looked up "mediator release tests" and "MRT" in PubMed, and was only able to find 1 article that appeared relevant, and it was a review article from 2003 that did not state in the abstract whether there was evidence to support or refute the use of these tests. I'm not even sure if this article is referring to the same tests as LEAP.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12823110This tech sheet describing the LEAP MRT test lists 23 scientific references but I do not have the time or expertise to examine them:http://restoreyourhealth.org/uploads/MRT-TechSheet.pdfI did find links from Aetna and BCBS of North Carolina with policy statements saying that they consider "mediator release tests" to be "experimental and investigational as they have not been proven to be effective". Therefore, patients should ask their insurance plan if the cost of these tests would be covered before getting the tests:http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/1_99/0038.htmlhttps://www.bcbsnc.com/content/services/medical-policy/updates/medical-policy-updates-2008-02-25.htmMy take is that I don't know everything, and that if someone's life is made better by the consequences of this test, then it is up to that person to decide if it was worth it or not. I suspect that the stronger you believe in the value of the test, the more likely it is that you will notice a positive effect from avoiding the foods that it identifies as suspect. Some people might call this a placebo effect, but as has been shown many times over, the placebo effect is real.http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=placebo-effect-a-cure-in-the-mind SetoSouth Pasadena, CA

It isn't testing for allergy, it is testing for food reaction of inflammatory response, looks at mast cell mediators, etc. And it works, by the way, did any of you learn about atypical anti-depressants for depression, etc. Things do change as science moves along. The proof is in patient results. CCoteMD

To: Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 9:49:24 AMSubject: RE: LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing?

It is bogus. Tests for allergy markers that simply show that the immune system recognizes food proteins. Has not been shown to predict allergic reactions, and has poor correlation with clinical outcomes. Costs $500.00. If you are worried they might have a sensitivity to a food, putting them on an elimination diet is a much more direct way to tell if they do. Highly promoted by alternate care providers, who will show immune recognition of foods in most all human beings, and then charge the patient for dietary counseling on how to avoid the foods. dts

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Lynn HoSent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 6:32 AMTo: practiceimprovement1 Subject: LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing?

Does any one do this and is it worthwhile?I looked it up but there certainly is lot of marketing to sift throughup to date does not recommend theseA patient is asking me to order this.thanks!Lynn

October 19, 2011

Someone at IMP camp was telling me about it. This person has a contract to get the test a lot cheaper...I'll see if this person is willing to go public on the listserve; maybe can save your patient some money if they decide to do it.

Sharon

What is a " food reaction of inflammatory response? " I don't know what that means. What is the disease or symptoms that go with this?