ALCAT

[Frankiefocus]

Has anyone tried the ALCAT blood test for food intolerence to help you with your RA ?

[Dobcross1]

Hi, yes I had it in January this year. It was expensive and I think if I had my time again I'd have the York test. I also learned as time went on that some people with RA don't respond to dietary changes and some do so it can be disappointing. But that said it's a case of you never know, so I wouldn't say don't do it, but for me it wasn't the magic solution I had hoped!

[Mall]

I had the York test some years back. It showed up two intolerances, dairy and corn. I religiously cut both out for 18 months. Checking every food item to ensure neither entered my body. This didn’t have any effect on my RA. My sinuses were a bit clearer but my calcium levels plummeted. I decided to take dairy again to protect myself from osteoporosis.

Some folk are sure intolerance to some foods is a factor so don’t let me put you off giving this a try but be aware it may not work for you.

[Don122]

The ALCAT and similar tests are not reproducible and have a poor scientific basis. Would recommend avoiding them.

[Frankiefocus in reply to Don122]

After some research I agree.

[oldtimer]

Useful summary here about food intolerance testing: nhs.uk/conditions/food-alle...

It's clear from discussions on here (a few of which have become a bit heated!) that some people respond to food exclusion diets and others don't. I have been down this avenue myself and (apart from meat, which I don't like anyway) have found no triggers or exclusions. It all took several years of trials. And I still don't know if it's the meat that produces a flare or something in the meat (growth hormone? antibiotic? could be anything really but I'm not going to find that out).

For most of us, eating a sensible mixed diet - tending perhaps towards the Mediterranean type - not getting over weight or under -weight, is the best policy.