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Food Allergies & Crohn's

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Posted 8/14/2008 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
I skimmed a book at the library on Crohn's that suggested that a food allergy could cause inflammation in the intestines and in fact trigger the onset of Crohn's.  The book suggested getting tested for food allergies even if you think you don't have any because some food allergies don't manifest themselves until later and not in the typical way (swelling, difficulty breathing etc. ).

So, I emailed my allergist and suggested a food allergy test and he pretty much told me that my source was wrong and that the allergy connection was a hoax.

Please let me know if any of you have been diagnosed with food allergies and if avoiding that food "cured" your Crohn's.

Posted 8/14/2008 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
I've been tested and am not allergic to anything.

cheers
Posted 8/14/2008 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
I have been tested and showed no allergies, however, there are foods that are poorly digested especially for Crohn's sufferers. Undigested food enters the intestinal tract and since it can't be absorbed, the gut bacteria ferment it. Fermentation by-products have some negative effects on the lining of the gut, including immune suppression. That leaves the way open for gut bacteria to infect gut cells. Once an infection of any kind is started, a particular bacteria called Bacteriodes fragilis will cause abscesses, inflammation and even fistulas. That bacteria is the anaerobic equivalent of e.coli which causes boils and infections under aerobic conditions. Once the abcesses take hold, there is an immune response to B.fragilis and that results in diarrhea. Unfortunately, that immune response is ineffective against B.fragilis, which is one of the most common gut bacteria and has by-products that shield it from the body's immune system. It is also very drug resistant and recent reports cite flagyl and cipro resistant strains appearing in addition to built in resistance to more common antibiotics. In any event, the result of eating certain foods is much the same as if there were an allergic response - the actual course of events is different.
Posted 8/14/2008 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
I've been tested for IGG food sensitivities. This concept isn't accepted by mainstream medicine I have high IGG antibodies to wheat, casein, egg white and to a lesser degree egg yolk, corn syrup Avoiding these foods have helped my blood pressure and mouth ulcers but have done nothing for anything bowel related, that I know of. Maybe I would be worse if I didn't follow the diet.
Posted 8/14/2008 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Allergies? No. But there's one going theory that some foods may foster the growth of undesirable flora in the gut, worsening (or even causing) the disease. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet doesn't work for everybody, and it's hard to stick to, but it can be dramatic. I stopped my bleeding after two months, got all my weight back by the third month, and now (8 months into it) I'm eating foods I couldn't consume before. I've been off my meds since January (against my doctor's advice, I will add).

See also:
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/
Posted 8/17/2008 6:11 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks everyone,

I had a feeling that it was all nonsense, but I'm always trying to find a "cure".

My allergist thought the info was not reliable as well.

Posted 8/17/2008 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes when I eat eggs, my flare gets really really really bad. Other times I eat eggs and nothing happens. Go figure.
It's hard for crohnies like me who always have active disease to determine what could be making it worse.
Posted 8/18/2008 3:05 AM (GMT 0)

Momikins said...
Thanks everyone,

I had a feeling that it was all nonsense, but I'm always trying to find a "cure".

My allergist thought the info was not reliable as well.


Don't be too quick to dismiss this. After all, the best reason docs can give for why we have this lovely disease is basically, "I dunno. But let's suppress your immune system." Do some more reading and investigating. Just remember, drug companies don't make any money if you just change your diet.

smilewinkgrin
Posted 8/18/2008 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
I have cows milk allergy, and allergies to certain fruits. Allergies existed before Crohns, no telling if there is a correlation but I tend to think it could be possible. If they had diagnosed my milk allergy sooner would I have Crohns.. who knows!
Posted 8/18/2008 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
I'm just getting frustrated with all the "unknown" about this disease.  I'd like some concrete answers and I'm sure you will agree that none of us are getting any answers.  In fact, I'd dare to venture, that most of us are not even getting a fair amount of sympathy for our pain.  My friends and co-workers act as though I'm just saying that I have a disease to get attention.  They have heard of other people who have Crohn's and because I don't act like them I must be making it all up.  Forget the fact that I take a minimum of 19 pills a day!  Sorry.....I'm just venting now.

Posted 8/18/2008 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Known causes of relapse (intestinal infections, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and stress) all increase permeability across the epithelial cell layer or have the
potential to do so. (Quoted from "Mucosal antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease are directed against intestinal bacteria." from Gut online) This paper describes the cause of Crohn's as being an immune reaction to normal intestinal bacteria (cytoplasmic protein). The implied mechanism is passage of those bacteria through the permeable gut wall which triggers the immune response. Another paper described the development of this kind of immune response to intestinal bacteria in mice by infecting their gut with a Helicobacter species (an example of intestinal infection). In that example the resulting inflammation lasted for the duration of the experiment, and showed that several gut bacteria were targeted by the immune system. If you have a permeable gut, you can also develop antibodies to foods as well. You can see why it is hard to fix the problem once it is triggered. Probiotics and certain other aids to alter the gut bacteria population are one of the better options for helping the problem.
Posted 8/18/2008 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Not entirely nonsense:

I had a coworker that was misdiagnosed with crohns. He had all the symptoms and his colonoscopy results looked identical to someones with crohns. Turned out he had a corn allergy that was almost killing him. It caused severe intestinal bleeding. He only found out after the crohns medicine didn't help at all and his doctors started looking for other causes.
Posted 8/18/2008 7:56 PM (GMT 0)

I have a cousin who's just a few months younger than me who has been sick since I've gotten my diagnosis (2 years ago). Finally, last month they told her she has a soy allergy. No doctor has ever tested me for food allergies and I began to wonder if maybe I have a food allergy and maybe that's why the drugs haven't been working the best for me.

I'm not saying that I don't have Crohn's, but what if there were something else to it? I am going to look into this as they are now talking about putting me on Humira or Remicade.

Posted 8/19/2008 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Well...o.k.....I've read everything you all have said up till now and I just want to say thank-you to all.  I will carefully consider what you have all said.  In the meantime, I guess it won't hurt to get some allergy testing done.  My doc has scheduled several blood tests.  I don't think any of them are for food.  He is currently on vacation so now I will need to wait till he gets back to ask for some food testing.  He intitially ruled food allergies out when I told him I didn't have any.  What do I know?  All I know is that no food has ever caused me to vomit or my throat or lips to swell.  Gut inflammation has to count for something, though....and maybe that will be enough to merit some food allergy testing.

Posted 8/21/2008 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Food diaries are a great way to help doctors with the diagnosing food allergies. I had to document everything I ate for months and reactions, eventaully you start seeing correlation. Some are easy like I eat certain fruits may lips and tongue swell. Others are harder to deterimine. Different forms of milk products caused different reactions, some triggered asthma, some gave me migranes, some had me vomitting for hours. In the end the dr. explained that the make up of the proteins that I am allergic to can change when baked, in the raw form, etc. Hence the variety of reactions.
Posted 9/3/2008 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
To those who have questions about food allergies and Crohn's:
My child has had a history of food allergies, then was thought to be gluten-intolerant, then was diagnosed with Crohn's. I believe all such conditions are related. He's been on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (a la the "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" book and website with the same name) for 3 years. As a result, the terrible pain he had has been gone after 2 years on the diet as long as he stays on the diet. He's been off of medications for 1 year although we're re-evaluating whether this is the best idea. However, he is still underweight and his colonoscopy of 4 months ago still showed signs of intestinal inflammation although there has been improvement.
He just had a blood test done to see if it looks like Food Allergies are still an issue, and it looks like "yes, they are". He may go to his allergist (Environmental Medicine physician) to be retested for each type of food that he eats, one at a time. He did this a lot when he was much younger, and had allergy shots...and this made a world of difference. The gluten free diet and SCD diets also helped. As a teen, he stopped taking shots and started eating some things that he knows he is sensitive to.
I'm thinking that genetically, he has food allergies. As a young guy, he had chronic ear infections so he was on antibiotics a lot! I think the frequent use of antibiotics further set up his intestines for Crohn's. As a teen, he stopped taking food allergy shots, and I think the flora in his intestines were not in balance, so I think the uncontrolled allergies plus the poor intestinal flora may be what brought on the Crohn's.
There are at least two different allergy testing/allergy shot approaches out there that I know of. The traditional Allergist approach, and the approach of doctors of Environmental Medicine. I've been told that the Environmental Medicine doctors use testing that is more precise, and therefore can prevent reactions to the allergy shots more easily than the other doctors (as is my understanding). As one nurse told me at the Environmental Medicine physicians office; "I used to work in the Emergency Room, and allergist's patients came in for emergency treatment all the time. I noticed though that this doctor's" (the environmental medicine doctor) "patients were rarely seen in the emergency room. I wondered why." She was convinced that it was because the Environmental Allergist was able to improve the health of his patients so much more than the traditional allergists. Environmental Medicine doctors also help their patients with altering their diets and making changes in their living environments to keep allergies under control. It's hard for me to know if all Environmental Medicine doctors are as talented as my son's doctor is, or if he is unusual. For more information on Environmental Medicine, go to: http://www.aaemonline.org/ You can read about what Environmental Medicine is, and also find a physician practicing this type of medicine.
Posted 9/3/2008 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have Celiac Disease along with Crohn's, and I'm also allergic to eggs. My GI has told me that this happens often in Crohn's patients, and that likely more allergies will develop as I get older, pork likely being the next one. I didn't develop Celiac until 3 years ago until after I had my last baby, but I was diagnosed with Crohn's 6 years ago, and it was seen during a colonoscopy. Maybe I'm an oddball, I don't know.....but my personal experience is that food allergies followed the Crohn's. Best of luck!
Posted 3/13/2010 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
I am really new to this, only having being diagnosed today. I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance last April. In December I started having serious gi problems, after lots of testing I have been diagnosed with Crohn's. This evening I had some eggs for dinner and now I am in so much pain..which made me think.. in november a dr had told me to had more protein to my diet, so i started eating eggs a couple times a day..I read this thread and now wonder..
Posted 7/26/2011 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - I was diagnosed with Crohn's at age 18 and am 46 now. I had surgery to remove about 5' of my intestine about 3.5 years ago as I was in bad shape. I had been feeling great until about 3 months ago when I decided to be healthy and switch to soy milk, soy cream, soy ice cream, etc. I did not correlate that soy was irrating my intestine and acting like a Crohn's flair until I was traveling and did not consume any soy for a few days. Be careful with soy as it can mimic or cause inflamation in the intestine. Once I stopped, I have been great once again.
Posted 7/26/2011 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
You may be right that it is the soy, but most soy products like soy milk and ice cream also contain carrageenan. Carrageenan is a No-No for me. Most regular ice cream contains carrageenan and gives me problems but I have no problem eating Haagen Dazs which does not contain carrageenan. (Of course I am not allergic to dairy).

When researchers want to induce ulcerative colitis (another form of IBD along with Crohn's) in their test animals, they feed them carrageenan.
Posted 7/27/2011 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
I am allergic to ALL uncooked fruits and veggies and some now even if cooked
Posted 7/27/2011 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
I am 56 and have had Crohn's since I was 23, I also have IBS but the only IBS symptoms I have are when I consume dairy and/or wheat. I am in a flare up of my CD right now and the only things I can eat are Ensure, eggs, mashed potatoes and jello..thanks to Pentasa and Salofalk enemas I am healing. I have often wondered if I had a corn sensitivity..so I make everything from scratch..except for now with the Ensure and Jello, heaven knows what is in Jello??!!lol
Posted 7/27/2011 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
I'm seeing a naturopath just to explore some other options. I'm in the middle of an elimination diet to see if I have any food sensitivities. For three weeks no gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, beef, pork, corn, tomatoes, peanuts, or sugar. After 3 weeks, I'll add one food in at a time and see how I react.

I could have opted for a blood test, but figured I'd save the $300 and kickstart myself to ditch processed foods and see how I feel. I'm definitely noticing changes in my sleep and mood, but not sure yet about my intestines. They are a little annoyed at me for changing my diet!

I figured cutting some of this out and seeing how I feel would be a pretty simple way to see what kind of difference it makes in what I eat. I'm tired of hearing the docs say it doesn't matter what I eat, when I know some foods will make me feel worse. And I do think some foods can help boost the body's autoimmune response. I don't think any of this will cure my Crohn's but I'm hoping it gives me a few more treatment options, or at least buys me more time before something else needs to be tried.

Sarah
Posted 9/13/2011 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
It's not nonsense, and anyone who tells you otherwise has no clue. Crohn's is your immune system jacked up. It's fighting the presence of something. It's histamine - no different than a reaction to poison ivy only on the inside. Any Rheumatologist will tell you that arthritis and crohns are in the same autoimmune class. if your allergist doesnt give you an IGG test - he's just ignorant. doctors aren't men of science seeking the truth and reading, taking classes to further their knowlege. They're bogged down just trying to make the practice run while shelling out nearly 100K a year in malpractice insurance for some. They're smart but they're only regurgitating what's been crammed down their throats. Think of things other things Doctors swore off. Some cancer is caused by virus - case in point HPV (which is just a fancy was of saying genital warts) and guess what is causes cancer. Now how many jerk off physicians walked around saying cancer has nothing to do with viruses for years!!!! no we have signed legislation to get young men & women vaccinated for HPV - because the chance of them having sex one day and contracting it is about 50%. I'm willing to bet IGG test became a staple in allergy testing in 5 years. BTW - I was diagnosed with Crohn's and tested for allergies. I'm allergic to egg, diary, oregano, garlic, gluten, almond, sweet potatoes and scallops. If I eat these things - it sends me into orbit. if I don't I'm fine. But guess what, there is dairy is all sorts of things - salt and vinegar chips, mcdonalds french fries - even non-dairy creamer!! but who would necessarily know that, so one is left to think it's random with no rhyme or reason. KNOW YOUR FOOD! if your granny can't read the ingredient. don't eat it.
Posted 9/13/2011 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lexistreet and welcome to Healingwell. You have attached to an extremely old post. Please take a moment to make a new post and introduce yourself to us. Also, please take a moment to read our welcome to New Members up above. Thanks!
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