Digestive issues can be confusing and frustrating, especially when symptoms pop up after you eat certain foods. You may wonder whether you’re dealing with a food allergy, lactose intolerance or a more general food sensitivity. When you’re looking for answers, one question you should start with is: can a gastroenterologist test for food intolerance?
A gastroenterologist, who is a specialist in the digestive system, can help you get answers. However, there are some important distinctions.
If you suspect you might have a food intolerance, make an appointment with a gastroenterologist who can work with you to help answer some of your questions.
Food intolerance vs. food allergy
Understanding the difference between food allergies and intolerances is the first step in getting the right diagnosis.
Here are some important distinctions:
- A food allergy involves your immune system. It can trigger an immediate allergic reaction like breaking out in hives, swelling, difficulty breathing or even life-threatening anaphylaxis. Common allergens include peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, dairy and eggs.
- A food intolerance does not involve the immune system. Instead, it’s often caused by difficulty digesting a certain type of food. For example, lactose intolerance is where your body lacks the enzyme needed to break down lactose (a sugar naturally occurring in milk).
Symptoms of a food intolerance are usually digestive, like loose stool, bloating, gas and abdominal pain. It can appear hours after eating the offending food. Unlike allergies, food intolerances are rarely life-threatening, but they can significantly affect your quality of life.
Can a gastroenterologist test for food intolerance?
Gastroenterologists are trained to diagnose and manage digestive conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease and various types of food sensitivity. These specialists can perform tests, rule out serious conditions and guide you in avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms.
How a gastroenterologist tests for food intolerance
Reviewing your medical history and symptoms
The first step often involves a detailed discussion about your eating habits, symptoms and how long they’ve been occurring. This helps your doctor identify patterns, like reactions to common foods like dairy or gluten and determine whether the intolerance develops over time or appeared suddenly.
Testing an elimination diet
An elimination diet involves removing suspected trigger foods from your diet for a few weeks, then slowly reintroducing them one at a time. This helps identify which type of food causes problems.
While this method requires patience and careful tracking, it is one of the most effective ways to uncover food sensitivity.
Lactose intolerance testing
For suspected lactose intolerance, a gastroenterologist may do a hydrogen breath test. After you drink a lactose-rich liquid, your breath is analyzed for hydrogen levels. High levels suggest that lactose is fermenting in your small intestine as a result of poor digestion.
Celiac disease screening
If gluten is suspected to be a problem, your gastroenterologist might screen for celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten. This involves blood tests to check for specific antibodies and possibly an endoscopy to view and biopsy the small intestine.
Celiac disease is not a food intolerance – it’s an immune reaction – but it often gets confused with gluten sensitivity. That’s why it’s important to get the correct diagnosis before avoiding foods like wheat unnecessarily.
Ruling out IBS
Symptoms like bloating, loose stool and discomfort may also indicate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While IBS is not directly caused by food intolerance, it can be worsened by certain foods.
Gastroenterologists often recommend low-FODMAP diets for managing IBS, which involves reducing fermentable carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the gut.
Can they test for food allergies?
While gastroenterologists focus more on digestion than the immune system, they often work with allergists to assess food allergies and intolerances. If a food allergy is suspected, your gastroenterologist may refer you for allergy testing, like skin prick tests or blood tests to measure immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels.
It’s important to remember that food allergies can be life-threatening and should be evaluated by an allergist. Signs of a true allergic reaction, such as swelling, hives or breathing difficulties, should never be ignored.
How we can help
If you’re struggling with unexplained digestive symptoms or suspect a food sensitivity, a gastroenterologist is a key resource. They can evaluate you for lactose intolerance, celiac disease, or irritable bowel syndrome and help determine whether you’re reacting to a type of food that should be avoided.
If you’ve been experiencing discomfort after meals, make an appointment with a gastroenterologist to start the process.
Learn about the digestive health and gastroenterology services we offer at Bon Secours.
