So much chronic unwellness can be attributed to gluten sensitivity and to leaky gut syndrome. I have written on both of these subjects before. Fatigue, pain, brain fog, depression, digestive symptoms, asthma, kidney disease, sore tongue, and vitamin D deficiency are a sample of the hundreds of possible manifestations of gluten sensitivity, which can affect any part of the body. What’s new is the single blood test that checks for both gluten sensitivity and leaky gut syndrome with unsurpassed accuracy and economy.
The Vibrant Wheat Zoomer is the name of this very impressive test from an innovative new laboratory called Vibrant America. The Vibrant Wheat Zoomer is an exceptional test for several reasons:
1. It is the most comprehensive test for gluten and wheat sensitivity available. Gluten is a large protein found in wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, and triticale. Conventional laboratories test an individual’s immune response to one small fraction of the gluten protein: the 33-mer peptide of alpha-gliadin. If you see a conventional medical doctor and have your blood tested at a conventional medical laboratory for celiac disease/gluten sensitivity, you will be tested for IgA and IgG antibodies to the 33-mer peptide of deamidated alpha-gliadin and transglutaminase 2. Tissue transglutaminase or transglutaminase 2, which is an enzyme that converts native gliadin to deamidated gliadin, comes under attack in celiac disease. If these antibodies are elevated, you have celiac disease- an autoimmune condition whereby the immune system is triggered to attack the small intestine upon ingestion of gluten-containing food. If these results are normal, you are told you don’t have a problem with gluten. Not so fast!
Conventional Celiac/Gluten Sensitivity Panel
Celiac disease represents only a small percentage of cases of ill-health effects triggered by consuming gluten. Many other fractions of the gluten protein can trigger adverse immune reactions in the body. Just because your immune system is not reactive to the 33-mer peptide of deamidated alpha gliadin does not mean gluten is not damaging your body. Your immune system may be reacting to other parts of the gluten protein, including the full spectrum of gliadin peptides, glutenins, and wheat germ agglutinin. The Vibrant Wheat Zoomer offers the most comprehensive analysis of gluten peptide reactions available.
2. It identifies non-gluten wheat sensitivity. Not only does the Vibrant Wheat Zoomer test for celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity but it also tests for non-gluten wheat sensitivity. A person may react to non-gluten proteins within wheat. If such a person is not reactive to gluten then eating the other gluten-containing grains besides wheat (such as barley and rye) may be fine.
3. It provides a measure of total IgA. Immunoglobulin A, or IgA, is one of the body’s class of antibodies or immune surveillance proteins. Elevated or low levels are significant. IgA is important to consider in interpreting the overall results. If total IgA is low then IgA specific for different fractions of gluten and wheat are likely to also be low. This is the case in what is called false negative results: the test looks normal but it is deceiving. About 10% of the population may have genetic IgA deficiency. Low IgA is common in cases of gluten sensitivity. This must be taken into account when reviewing specific IgA levels. IgG antibody levels are independent of IgA and may identify positive reactions missed by the IgA antibodies.
4. It tests for wheat allergy. True wheat allergy involves immediate-type reactions, which are identified by the presence of elevated IgE antibodies. All the other immune reactions tested with the Vibrant Wheat Zoomer are delayed type reactions, which are evaluated by testing IgA and IgG antibodies.
5.It tests for the gluten-triggered reactions to the body’s enzymes transglutaminase 3 and transglutaminase 6. Transglutaminase 3 antibodies are found in autoimmune attack on the skin and transglutaminase 6 antibodies are associated with autoimmune attack on the brain.
6. It tests for leaky gut syndrome. People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity have been found to have leaky gut syndrome, identification of which included elevated antibodies to LPS (lipopolysaccharide – bacterial cell wall debris from intestinal organisms). The Vibrant Wheat Zoomer measures antibodies to LPS.
7. It is more accurate than other tests. Microchip technology provides for superior sensitivity and specificity.
8. Despite being the best it is also the most economical. As of this writing, the price is $199.
9. Rapid turnaround time. Test results are typically back in 7 days.
