David Blyweiss, MD
Another patient, a 35-year-old woman with frequent urination (20 x/day) and urinary incontinence found that her symptoms resolved completely after 4 weeks on the dietary program changes…this after three other doctors…multiple meds and multiple cystoscopies
Optimal nutrition positively affects the immune system and your metabolism and supports women’s health before, during and after pregnancy. A personalized nutritional program based on the Alcat Test identifies which foods may be incompatible with a pregnant woman’s personal chemistry. Potentially pro-inflammatory foods can be avoided, and the body – and your baby – will be less stressed and burdened. The Alcat program helps to optimize detoxification and support a balanced immune system, eliminating damaging toxins and metabolic waste. This may also improve the function of the diverting organs like liver, kidney, skin and mucous membranes.
Detoxification
Detoxification and purification are key concepts of integrative medicine. They describe the discharge of toxins and metabolic waste products and enhancing the function of diverting organs (liver, kidney, skin and mucous membranes).
The Alcat program provides support of detoxification. By avoiding potentially inflammatory cellular responses, less waste products will be released by the granulocytes, with less burden on normal daily detoxification functions.
Fertility / Infertility
Fecundity (fertility) is the ability of an organism to produce offspring. This can be affected by many internal factors, such as hormonal imbalance, premature menopause, and being overweight, and/or external factors such as infections, foods, and pesticides. In women, the end of menstruation signals the onset of menopause and the end of the reproductive years. In men, fertility decreases in the 40’s, but can remain even in old age depending on an individual’s constitution.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a special form of diabetes mellitus (link to Diabetes mellitus). During pregnancy the glucose release is increased, because the body needs more sugar. The pancreas must therefore produce insulin to lower the blood glucose level. If the pancreas cannot manage this increased need for insulin, the result will be insulin deficiency. It may also be that the cells do not respond to the insulin stimulus, resulting in a relative insulin deficiency and gestational diabetes. Being overweight or having poor dietary habits favors the development of gestational diabetes.
Menstruation
The word menstruation comes from the Latin word mensis “month” and describes the monthly recurrent bleeding from the uterus. The first menstrual period (menarche) begins in puberty; the last bleeding initiates the menopause. The monthly cycle is repeated approximately every 28 days and is controlled by interplay of hormones. Some women may notice little or no physical problems and other may suffer from water retention, bloating, fatigue or painful cramps (dysmenorrhea).
An optimized diet may help to manage these physical changes during and before menstruation.
Migraine
Link to Migraine
Polyarthritis
Link to arthritis
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a common endocrine disorder among women during her reproductive ages 1. The pathology includes metabolic, reproductive, psychological and cardiovascular effects 1, 2. Scientists recommend lifestyle management as a treatment for PCOS; obesity can worsen the impact of PCOS 1, 2.
Premenstrual Syndrome
The Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) occurs about 1-2 weeks before menstruation starts and may be due to hormonal imbalances, stress or poor diet. Symptoms can range from acne and increased appetite to bloating, headaches, water retention (edema) or joint pain.
Skin
Link to skin disorders
Weight management
The Alcat Test program provides the ideal foundation for a healthy and sustainable weight management – before, during or after pregnancy (link to weight management).
Test recommendations for women related conditions
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What test |
Why? |
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Alcat Test for food intolerance & chemical sensitivity
PreviMedica Program LINK
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Validation studies show that the Alcat Test can have very positive effects on women’s health:
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| Adrenal Stress Profile to determine the levels of the stress related cortisol to that of DHEA, (both of which are produced by the adrenal glands). | Stress can cause inflammation, exacerbating uniquely female conditions.
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Effectiveness and validation of the Alcat Test
Beginning in 1988, and carrying through to the present, several clinical studies have been performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Alcat Test. Some of which were “double-blinded*” to see how well the test results correlate with actually eating the food.
A valid test for food intolerance should show the effect of food substances on those cells of the immune system which are associated with the inflammatory process.
(Note to us: it would be good to link to references that link neutrophil activation to certain disease conditions, LINK to Alcat Test immunology section?).
If the test results are valid there should be in a concordance with symptoms (e.g., gastrointestinal complaints), and correlate with double blind oral exposure.
(*Double-blind studies: To obtain an unbiased outcome the study must be carried out in double blind fashion wherein neither the doctor (investigator) nor test subject knows whether the food they are re-introducing has been indicated by the blood test as being either positive or negative. The test results are evaluated to see if they correlate with the “gold standard” – a double blind oral challenge. This is a rigorous and time consuming protocol that yields an objective evaluation of both the sensitivity and the specificity of the test.)
Why is that important?
This is important because you want the test to correctly identify reaction provoking substances; but, you also do not want the test to show false positives. The first parameter is called, “sensitivity”. The second is called, “specificity”. A false positive would cause you to needlessly eliminate a safe food.
Scientists have shown that in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis or migraine the Alcat Test can detect those foods that cause the above symptoms. The Alcat Test has shown high correlation with double-blind oral challenges: 83.4% with foods and 96% with food additives.
Link studies
- High Correlation of the Alcat Test Results with Double-blind Challenge (DBC) in Food Sensitivity (P. Fell, Bostoff et al, 1988 and published in the Annals of Allergy)
- Diagnostic Value of Alcat Test in intolerance to food additives compared with double-blind placebo-controlled (DBPC) oral challenges ( Hoj, J Allerg Clin Immun 1 (3); 1996)
More detail: Scientific Dossier p. 14-16
Reproducibility of the Alcat Test
Drs. P. Potter and H. Steinmann of the University of Cape Town, South Africa conducted an Alcat Test reproducibility study in 1994. The study found high reproducibility (95%) of both positive and negative test results. . Reproducibility of the Antigen Leukocyte Cellular Antibody test (Alcat) – Statistical Analysis, Summary Statistics & Scientific Report
A second Alcat Test reproducibility study was conducted at the University in Bloemfontein, South Africa by Dr. WML Neetling and Dr. AM Kachelhoffer, January to April, 1998.
The study analyzed 10 consecutive patients. Of these, 2 patients had no prior allergies. The balance reported various symptoms such as migraine, asthma, and IBS. Using the Alcat Test, 1,300 analyses of 4,989 data points were performed, testing responses to 130 antigens. The study demonstrated 92% reproducibility.
Parexel Medstat Final Statistic Report
Study of the Alcat Test in 10 subjects tested twice: 1000 data points:
- Reproducibility: 97% in Cohort A, 99% in Cohort B. Overall,
- 983 of 1,000 Alcat Test data points (98.3%) were reproducible under the conditions investigated by the study. The study demonstrated the statistically significant reproducibility of the Alcat Test results.
Study comparing the Alcat Test results with flow cytometry and microscopy. Gitte Jensen, NIS Labs (Natural Immune System) Oregon, USA, 2009
More detail: Scientific Dossier p. 17 No 1-4
Studies of the Alcat Test and its use with women related condition
- The Effect of The Alcat Test Diet Therapy for Food Sensitivity in Patient’s With Obesity
Investigators Mohammed Akmal, Saeed Ahmed Khan, and Abdul Qayyum Khan studied 27 obese patients who were not successful losing weight following a low calorie diet and then placed the patients on an ALCAT based elimination diet. Twelve weeks following the diet, the patients lost a statistically significant amount of weight and fat. In addition, they experienced an overall improvement in well-being. Published in Middle East Journal of Family Medicine, April 2009, Volume 7, Issue 3
More detail: Scientific Dossier p. 18, Nr. 6
- The Alcat Test – A Guide and Barometer in the Therapy of Environmental and Food Sensitivities
172 patients (Dr. BA Solomon, Environmental Medicine, Vol. 9, Number 2, 1992:2-6).
- The Short Term Efficacy of the Alcat Test of Food Sensitivities to Facilitate Changes in Body Composition and Self-Reported Disease Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Study
Investigators Kaats GR, Pullin D, Parker LK. The patients’ group following the Alcat Test Plan LOST SIGNIFICANTLY (p<.001) MORE SCALE WEIGHT, % BODY FAT and FAT WEIGHT; had GREATER IMPROVEMENTS in BODY COMPOSITION (p<.001) and had GREATER INCREASES IN FAT-FREE MASS (p<.001). When compared to the control group, the Alcat group reported improvements in ALL 20 items on a Disease Symptom Inventory Self Report. It was concluded that, as compared to participants following a weight control plan of their own choosing, following the Alcat test and diet plan resulted in HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN BODY COMPOSITION AND SELF-REPORTED DISEASE SYMPTOMS. 80% of the Alcatgroup lowered their body fat and 78% achieved an improvement in body composition. Published in American Journal of Bariatric Medicine, spring 1996.
More detail: Scientific Dossier p. 19, Nr. 9
- How to get the best out of a low carb diet
Authors Pescatore and Deutsch; “Journal of Applied Nutrition” (JAN) Voulme 55 (1), 2005 (official publication “International and American Association of Clinica Nutritionists” – IAACN)- combination of carbohydrate-reduced diet and Alcat Test are effective for weight gain.
- El test Alcat de sensibilidad a los alimentos y su interés en Medicina Estética
Author Cabo-Soler et al. Presentation at the „14th Med Day of Esthetical Medicine & Dermatological Survey“, Venice, Italy, Sep. 22-23, 1995 and publicated in “Medica Estetica” Numero 40- March 1996 (spanish). 30 Patients lost weight and body fat after doing the Alcat Test.
More detail: Scientific Dossier p. 19, Nr. 10
Literature
1 Housman E, Reynolds RV. Polycystic ovary syndrome: A review for dermatologists: Part I. Diagnosis
and manifestations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Nov;71(5):847.
2 Moran LJ, Hutchison SK, Norman RJ, Teede HJ. Lifestyle changes in women with polycystic ovary
syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Jul 6;(7):CD007506.