Description

As part of IgG food allergy testing, this test looks for Candida albicans, a microscopic fungal organism and pathogenic yeast.

There is a link between gastrointestinal health and overall well-being, according to research. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance of good and bad bacteria, has been shown to exacerbate behavioral disorders, hyperactivity, aggression, and fatigue. Dybiosis appears to weaken the immune system and contribute to food allergies, digestive disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and cognitive dysfunction.

Practitioners may advise avoiding the identified foods and supplementing with natural products that control Candida overgrowth and aid in gut healing. Depending on the Candida levels and the severity of symptoms, additional testing may be recommended.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF YOU HAVE A HIGH CANDIDA ALBICANS RESULT?

Candida IgG antibodies may be caused by a current or previous infection or intestinal overgrowth. A high Candida IgG level indicates that the immune system has interacted with Candida. Although Candida and related fungal species are normal GI flora constituents, the use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, chemotherapy, or anti-inflammatory steroids increases the risk of fungal overgrowth and GI flora imbalance. Dietary changes and/or antifungal therapy may reduce Candida antibodies and symptoms.

Patients with many symptoms of yeast overgrowth had high levels of IgG antibodies to Candida. Candida problems occur when Candida albicans’s benign yeast form transforms into its fungal form, causing a buildup of toxins in the body. Candida can overgrow areas of the intestinal mucosa, causing a variety of symptoms, including the formation of microscopic holes in the intestine lining, resulting in “leaky gut” syndrome. Candida albicans proteins have the potential to cause an inflammatory response.

Candida overgrowth has been linked to a wide range of disorders, including:

• autistic spectrum disorder
• MS (multiple sclerosis)
• clinical depression
• chronic exhaustion
• fibromyalgia
• headaches
• irritable bowel syndrome.

When Candida enters the bloodstream, it can cause life-threatening complications in immunocompromised patients with cancer or AIDS. Antibiotics, oral contraceptives, chemotherapy, anti-inflammatory steroids, and sugar and starch-rich diets all increase susceptibility to Candida overgrowth.