Best Lab Tests for Digestive Issues
Digestive health can be compromised as we encounter stressors, infections, processed foods, and a multitude of other factors throughout life. Although digestive health is a key component of overall wellness, it is easy to fall victim to fad diets, detoxes, and other treatments in pursuit of digestive relief.Â
While it isn’t abnormal to have an irregular bowel movement here and there or a stomach ache after a night out drinking, it is abnormal to suffer from digestive upset more days than not. If your bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, etc. is significantly impacting your quality of life, then it’s time to address it and start making informed decisions about your health.Â
This article will shed light on the many tests that naturopathic doctors (NDs) offer to help address your digestive issues and get you feeling better sooner.
Best Lab Tests for Digestive Issues
Food Sensitivity Testing
- Type of test: Blood draw
- Symptoms you may have: Bloating, gas, changes in bowel movements, abdominal pain, migraines, headaches, fatigue, hives, asthma, unexplained weight changes, sinus congestion, joint pain, hair loss, and more.
- Conditions it may be good for: Chronic acne, eczema, IBS, IBD, autoimmune disorders, etc.
The IgG food sensitivity test is a blood test that is used to detect the level of IgG antibodies against certain foods that are consumed within the diet. This information can help determine what foods within the diet may be causing your symptoms and which are likely safe to eat. To clarify, IgG food sensitivity tests do not diagnose a food allergy as those are mediated by IgE antibodies. Instead, they look at food intolerances/sensitivities which are believed to be prevalent in up to 20% of the general population.Â
Breath Tests
- Type of test: Breath test
- Symptoms you may have: Bloating, gas, abdominal pain, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, and chronic bad breath.
- Conditions it may be good for: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), H.pylori infection, IBS, and lactose intolerance.
A breath test measures the concentration of specific gases in a given sample of exhaled air. This information can help determine whether certain bacteria have overgrown in the digestive system or whether our body struggles to break down certain carbohydrates in the diet.Â
Depending on the type of breath test, patients will usually need to fast for a specific amount of time and then provide a baseline breath sample. After ingesting a test solution (in some cases) you would then provide subsequent breath samples which involve blowing air into a breath collection device.Â
An H. pylori breath test is often called the urea breath test as you are instructed to drink a solution containing urea. H.pylori break down urea into carbon dioxide and therefore excess carbon dioxide in the breath can be a sign of infection. SIBO, on the other hand, can be diagnosed with a hydrogen breath test. Patients are instructed to drink either a glucose or lactulose beverage and then breath samples are tested for hydrogen or methane levels to determine a diagnosis.
Stool Tests
- Type of test: Stool test
- Possible symptoms: Bloody stools, chronic diarrhea, constipation, ongoing/severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, persistent gas/bloating, mucous-y stools, pale or dark stools, etc.
- Conditions it may be good for: Infections (bacterial, parasitic, viral), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colon cancer, pancreatic insufficiency and more.
Several types of stool tests exist though each involve collecting a tiny amount of stool and sending it off to the lab. The FIT test, otherwise known as the fecal immunochemical test, looks for tiny amounts of blood in the stool which may or may not be associated with colorectal cancer. This test is often conducted with your family doctor or specialist.Â
Other types of stool tests like a stool culture determine whether you have an infection and whether the cause is a bacteria, parasite, or virus. This is especially indicated if you have recently travelled outside of the country and/or have other signs and symptoms of an infection.Â
Naturopathic doctors sometimes employ the use of more in-depth stool testing like the GI-Map. This test looks at inflammatory and immune markers, digestive markers, antibiotic resistance genes, commensal bacteria, and opportunistic bacteria as well.Â
Blood Tests
- Type of test: Blood draw
- Possible symptoms: Blood or mucous in stool, fatigue, abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements, rashes, etc.
- Conditions it may be good for: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, H. pylori/peptic ulcer disease, thyroid disorders, and more.
Many are aware that our yearly blood work can give us a lot of insight into our bodies and how well they function. What many don’t know is that blood tests can actually be used to help diagnose certain gastrointestinal disorders. For example, there is an entire celiac disease panel that measures antibodies such as anti-tissue transglutaminase to determine whether you have an autoimmune reaction to gluten. In addition, measuring antibodies against H.pylori can help determine if there is an infection causing your digestive issues.
Why Test?
Testing removes the guesswork from treatment and gets you better faster. Even with the help of an experienced healthcare provider, it is virtually impossible to know what is going on inside the body without actually testing to see.Â
Testing helps avoid unnecessary trial and error, wasted supplements, costly dietary changes, and precious time spent in visits. Although testing can be an investment, it is the fastest way to determine the root cause of your health concern and how to best address it. It also ensures that no changes are made to worsen your current condition or masks symptoms that need attention right away.
Naturopathic Approaches to Digestive Issues
In order to determine which test is best suited for you, a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) would need to complete a medical intake to evaluate your medical history, what tests may have been completed prior, and any signs and/or symptoms you currently suffer from.Â
Some tests may be diagnostic and others can give us clues as to what foods you may be sensitive to or what digestive enzymes you may require. Contrary to popular belief, there is not always a clean-cut answer as to why a person suffers from certain digestive disorders and others do not. The good news is that NDs are best suited to offering the options that can help.Â
Do you have questions about how to navigate testing or how this would impact your treatment plan? Book in with Dr. Angelica, ND to learn more!Â
Do you have questions about how to navigate testing or how this would impact your treatment plan?