Ask a naturopathic doctor:
Question: Dr. Erdman, I’m a breast cancer survivor – can I can safely include soy in my diet? How will it affect my risk of recurrence?
@drhayleyerdmannd says:
For breast cancer survivors, the current consensus is that moderate consumption of soy (up to 10g per day of tofu, soy milk, whole soybeans/edamame) is not harmful, and even suggests an association with a reduced risk of recurrence and improved survival.
This is based on 3 large-scale studies that included over 9500 breast cancer survivors (only women were included). The protective effect was seen regardless of whether the cancer was hormone sensitive (Estrogen/Progesterone Receptor Positive), and whether the woman was taking drugs like Tamoxifen and Anastrazole, which are commonly taken to prevent recurrence after completing surgery, radiation or chemotherapy in hormone sensitive disease.
Take note that the benefit seen with soy in breast cancer survivors may not be due to soy itself. Rather, soy may be an indicator of a diet that includes more plant-based foods, including fruits, veggies and plant protein like whole soy foods, which has been shown to reduce overall cancer risk.
Until we know this – If you’re not a regular consumer of soy foods, the research is not strong enough to suggest that they should be used as standard therapy to reduce recurrence risk. But, if you are someone who includes whole soy foods as a healthy source of plant-based protein in your diet, you can take heart that moderate amounts are safe.
Source: Kaczor T. The Effects of Soy Consumption on Breast Cancer Prognosis. Natural Medicine Journal Nov 2012;4(11)Perhaps the question should not be “What is the best diet?” but rather “What is the best diet for me?”
Discovering the foods that cause inflammation and clinical symptoms in the body could guide diet choices and help manage chronic health issues, but is this promise too good to be true?
Food Sensitivities: What are they?
A Food Sensitivity is a reaction that occurs after the consumption of a particular food. When the problem food is consumed, the body produces an “IgG antibody” which binds to the food and forms a complex. This complex can build up in the tissues and trigger inflammation, which may result in a variety of symptoms. Each person can have unique food sensitivities and experience different symptoms when they consume these reactive foods. Food Sensitivities are different from food allergies and do not show up on allergy tests.
Diagnosing food sensitivities can be challenging because symptoms are usually delayed hours to days after ingestion and may not occur after every exposure. Food sensitivities have been linked to numerous chronic health concerns including obesity, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome and autoimmunity.
Obesity
A 2008 report looked at obese children and discovered they had significantly higher IgG antibodies to food antigens than normal weight children. They also found that anti-food IgG antibody concentrations are strongly associated with low grade systemic inflammation and narrowing of the carotid arteries. The changes are a risk factor for future heart disease. The study concluded that: “These findings raise the possibility that anti-food IgG is pathogenically involved in the development of obesity and atherosclerosis (1).”
Migraines
The cause of migraine headaches is multifaceted and remains poorly understood. Recent research suggests a correlation with migraine headaches and food sensitivities. After identifying and eliminating food sensitivities, patients reported a reduction in duration, frequency, and intensity of migraines (2). This relationship was further tested by having patients complete a two week “washout period” and then consume identified foods. The trial was the first double- blinded, randomised, cross-over study on the topic and the researchers concluded IgG food sensitivity testing and food elimination was effective for migraine reduction (2). Other trials have been able to replicate this result. One such study saw a reduction in migraine headaches after 6 weeks of eliminating identified IgG food sensitivities (3). In 2019, Current Pain and Headache Reports suggested that current evidence supported IgG Food Sensitivity testing for creating customizable diets for patients to treat migraines without the use of medications (4).
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Evidence is also increasing for irritable bowel syndrome and IgG Food Sensitivity. Several studies have shown a link between IBS and IgG hyperactivity. A recent study in 2018 offered further support for this association. After 6 months on a diet avoiding their food sensitivities, patients with IBS demonstrated improvements in stool frequency, pain relief and quality of life (5). IgG testing was also able to provide relief in IBS patients who failed to improve with standard medical treatment (6).
Autoimmunity
Individuals with Crohn’s were shown to have higher levels of IgG reactions than their healthy counterparts. Eliminating these foods resulted in improved stool frequency, abdominal discomfort and quality of life (7). IgG hyperreactivity was also seen with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s. Patients with Sjogren’s were identified to have various food hypersensitivities by IgG reactivity to these foods. Diets eliminating these foods led to resolution of symptoms that recurred with re-introduction of the food (8)
Should I get a Food Sensitivity Test?
Despite several studies confirming the association between elevated levels of IgG antibodies against food antigens and the improvement in clinical symptoms, Food Sensitivity Testing remains controversial for some allergy organizations. Concerns include using the test to diagnose an illness and the misuse of testing that results in unnecessary food restriction. IgG Food Sensitivity Testing should not be used to diagnose food allergies. Food allergies can be anaphylactic in nature and produce IgE not IgG antibodies. If you suspect a food allergy, referral to an allergist for testing is a more appropriate workup.
However, if symptoms seem to be linked to food and are not presenting like typical food allergies, in conjunction with a good work up and history taking, IgG Food Sensitivity testing may offer symptom relief for the aforementioned health conditions and should be considered.
Interpreting test results or removing suspected foods from the diet must be done responsibly. Speaking with a medical doctor, naturopathic doctor, nutritionist, or dietitian ensures dietary changes are safe, meet daily needs and are managed and re-evaluated appropriately.
If you are interested in learning more, please speak to a health care professional. Our team of Naturopathic Doctors are happy to help and work alongside your health team to provide the best care and relief for you.
Stay well!
References
1. Wilders-Truschnig M, Mangge H, Lieners C, Gruber H, Mayer C, März W. IgG antibodies
against food antigens are correlated with inflammation and intima media thickness in
obese juveniles. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2008 Apr;116(4):241-5. doi: 10.1055/s-
2007-993165
2. Kadriye Alpay, Mustafa Ertas, Elif Kocasoy Orhan , Didem Kanca Ustay , Camille
Lieners, Betül Baykan . Diet Restriction in Migraine, Based on IgG Against Foods: A
Clinical Double-Blind, Randomised, Cross-Over Trial. Cephalalgia. 2010 Jul;30(7):829-37.
Doi: 10.1177/0333102410361404. Epub 2010 Mar 10. PMID: 20647174
3. Elif Ilgaz Aydinlar, Pinar Yalinay Dikmen, Arzu Tiftikci , Murat Saruc, Muge Aksu , Hulya G
Gunsoy , Nurdan Tozun doi: IgG-based Elimination Diet in Migraine Plus Irritable Bowel
Syndrome. Headache. 2013 Mar;53(3):514-25. Doi: 10.1111/j.1526
4610.2012.02296.x. Epub 2012 Dec 6.
4. Geiselman James F. The Clinical Use of IgG Food Sensitivity Testing With Migraine
Headache Patients: A Literature Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2019 Aug
27;23(11):79. Doi: 10.1007/s11916-019-0819-4. PMID: 31456119
5. Hanna Karakula-Juchnowicz, Mirosława Gałęcka , Joanna Rog, Anna Bartnicka, Zuzanna
Łukaszewicz, Pawel Krukow, Justyna Morylowska-Topolska, Karolina Skonieczna-
Zydecka, Tomasz Krajka Kamil Jonak, and Dariusz Juchnowicz. The Food-Specific Serum
IgG Reactivity in Major Depressive Disorder Patients, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients
and Healthy Controls. Nutrients. 2018 May; 10(5): 548. Published online 2018 Apr
28. doi: 10.3390/nu10050548 PMID: 29710769
6. Drisko , Jeanne, Bette Bischoff, Matthew Hall, Richard McCallum. Treating Irritable
Bowel Syndrome With a Food Elimination Diet Followed by Food Challenge and
Probiotics. J Am Coll Nutr 2006 Dec;25(6):514-22. doi:
10.1080/07315724.2006.10719567. PMID: 17229899
7. Bentz S, Hausmann M, Piberger H, Kellermeier S, Paul S, Held L, Falk W, Obermeier F,
Fried M, Schölmerich J, Rogler G. Clinical relevance of IgG antibodies against food
antigens in Crohn’s disease: a double-blind cross-over diet intervention study.
Digestion.2010; 81(4):252-64.
8. SChristine Kim-Lee, Lakshmanan Suresh, and Julian L. Ambrus, Jr. Gastrointestinal
disease in Sjogren’s syndrome: related to food hypersensitivities. Springerplus. 2015; 4:
9. Published online 2015 Dec 12. doi: 10.1186/s40064-015-1557-7. PMID: 26688780
10. Az Gerard E Mullin, Kathie M Swift, Liz Lipski, Laura K Turnbull, S Devi Rampertab.
Testing for Food Reactions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Nutr Clin Prac. 2010
Apr;25(2):192-8.doi: 10.1177/0884533610362696. PMID: 20413700