Digestion/Gastrointestinal

Testing for Poor Digestive Function

Poor digestive function has a number of causes. It may result from an immature gut in infants and from heavy antibiotic usage or the lack of the protein digesting enzyme DPP4. The possible relationship between the lack of DPP4 enzyme and the symptoms of PDD/autism is the recent discovery of Dr. Alan Friedman at Johnson & Johnson Labs. Without essential digestive enzymes, such as DPP4, partially digested proteins such as gluten and casein may leak into the blood.

Partially digested proteins have odd configurations and mimic other complex molecules such as endorphins. Endorphins are nervous system proteins that act as painkillers. Partially digested gluten or casein proteins may bind to pain killing (opiate) receptors and cause behavioral symptoms of poor eye contact, irritability, or disconnection.

Poor digestion may or may not elicit an immunoglobulin response. It may cause inflammation symptoms instead, such as intestinal irritability, stomachache and/or diarrhea. These reactions are not technically allergies. Nor is opiate activation technically a true allergy. When IgG or IgE testing finds milk or gluten sensitivity, it is because the chemical messages weaving through the body tripped the allergy system.

Other Gut Problems

Similarly, when reactions to a food are aggression, poor concentration, or seizures, many other explanations are possible. All body systems are interdependent and so intertwined that designing tests to understand and study their discrete functions can be very difficult. The artificial distinctions placed between immune and neurological systems hinder diagnosis and treatment. This imprecise diagnosis can be very frustrating, but there are too many ways for the body to react and communicate. That is, it is unlikely that one testing system will ever be able to find and sort all possible reactions.

Best "Test" for Reactions

The best “test” for reactions is elimination of suspect items. The limitation with this approach is that irritants can interact. That is, exposure to one item will not cause symptoms, but when two mildly reacting foods are present, together they trip a response by overloading the system. In “load” reactions, a little is tolerable, but too much of one or a combination of two or more causes trouble. Blood testing may then be useful, but the problem in load allergies is usually a leaking gut.
Rather than eliminating additional foods, the answer is repairing the underlying leak.

Leaky gut profile can be arranged by the clinic

Leaky Gut Test (Intestinal Permeability Assessment)

This test determines if a person has Leaky Gut Syndrome. Leaky Gut Syndrome is associated with allergies, pain, inflammation, Crohn's disease, and other illnesses.

The small intestine has the paradoxical dual function of being a digestive/ absorptive organ for nutrients as well as a powerful barrier against the excessive absorption of bacteria, food antigens and large molecules. Increased permeability of the intestinal mucosal barrier can swell the number of toxins & antigens entering the bloodstream and lead to an overly sensitized immune system in some individuals. Decreased permeability, on the other hand, appears as a fundamental cause of malnutrition, malabsorption and failure to thrive. A number of clinical disorders are associated with both conditions.

Testing can be arranged as part of a consultation.

The Gastrogram

A brief description of the methodology employed

The patient swallows a small capsule containing an exposed pH sensing
electrode. There are also three zinc electrodes which are each protected by a
different thickness of material which is attacked by the pancreatic enzymes.
The capsule contains a plastic encapsulated copper coil which is used for
communication with the external equipment by low frequency inductive
coupling.

When the capsule is swallowed it is located by manually scanning the abdomen
with a similar coil connected to the electronics. A flashing light on the detector
head shows when the two coils are in alignment. A 30kH low voltage signal is
applied and the back EMF from the internal coil is detected in each half-cycle.
The signal is amplified and analysed so that the pH data may be decoded.

Two pH curves are plotted after the ingestion of the aliquots of a solution of
sodium hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate). In this way increased or decreased
stomach acid levels are assessed and cases of achlorhydria are identified. The
pH changes are followed as the transducer passes into the duodenum. Any
changes in stomach emptying pattern are clearly seen.

The three zinc electrodes are sequentially exposed as their coverings are
removed by the action of the pancreatic enzymes. A change in signal occurs at
each of the three stages and the time after passage through the pylorus is
recorded for each event. The time sequence is compared with that obtained in
a series of normal controls and the percentage of normal calculated for the
efficiency of the pancreatic enzymes.

At the moment, this technique does not give individual data for each group of
enzymes. It is heavily biased towards the activity of lipase and trypsin.

The transducer passes through the intestinal tract and the pH monitoring can
continue if required. The test does not cause any discomfort or distress for the
patient and it is not necessary to recover the transducer from the faeces.

Contact clinic to arrange test.