Food intolerance can be experienced in a number of conditions but is generally not considered unless a person is not is adequately responding to other treatments. A form to assess for food intolerance and related symptoms and conditions can be found at the RPAH Allergy Unit Website.

Gut irritants and fodmaps are common concerns for people with IBS. Less common is food (chemical) intolerance and or histamine intolerance. This may be more likely to be a concern if the person also has non celiac gluten sensitivity and or complex chronic diseases like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS.

Source; Betterhealth.gov.au “Food intolerance has been associated with asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).“

Migraine Australia 1: Migraine attacks can be triggered by your diet. Food-related triggers occur in about 10-20% of people with migraine.

The best way to identify food triggers is with an elimination diet. The RPAH Elimination Diet in particular is a science-based rigorous process for identifying food intolerances and developing a personalised diet for you. It is best done with the help of a dietician. 

Source; Betterhealth.gov.au

Food intolerance is a chemical reaction that some people have after eating or drinking some foods; it is not an immune response. Food intolerance has been associated with asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Source: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-diet.html

Some people with ME/CFS report sensitivities to different foods, however it is not clear why this is the case. Reactions are more likely to be intolerances rather than allergies, which means that they do not involve the immune system. You may find that you can continue to have small amounts of the food without triggering a reaction.

Discuss suspected intolerances with your GP. Avoid commercially available tests that claim to diagnose food hypersensitivity, as these have no scientific basis. Overly restricting your diet may make you vulnerable to malnutrition and worsen your ME/CFS symptoms.

Source: ME/CFS Health From 22:04 When even food triggers your symptoms

If you have ME/CFS you may be interested in the following as well

Learn more on ME/CFS at CDC.gov https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/about/index.html

Source: WEBMD https://www.webmd.com/allergies/what-is-mast-cell-activation-syndrome

Mast cell activation syndrome diet 

Food can trigger MCAS, so working with a dietitian to improve your diet is helpful.  Ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian.  Your dietitian may introduce you to a low-histamine diet if they confirm you can’t tolerate high-histamine foods.

People with MCAS often also have a reaction to foods including monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial food dyes and flavorings, chocolate, food preservatives, alcohol, shellfish,  pineapples, and tomatoes.

What are the most common mast cell triggers?

Potential mast cell triggers include:

  • Heat, cold, or sudden temperature changes
  • Tiredness
  • Stress
  • Exercise
  • Food
  • Alcohol
  • Medication
  • Venoms 
  • Infections
  • Sunlight

Should you try a food intolerance diet if you are neurodivergent?

Source: NHS neurodiversity Whole Health https://www.bedslutonchildrenshealth.nhs.uk/neurodiversity-support/a-whole-person-approach/eating-drinking-and-diet-for-neurodivergent-children-and-young-people/

Exclusion or elimination diets and supplements

Diets that remove a type of food are known as exclusion or elimination diets. Current research shows that there are no long-term benefits of treating autism or ADHD with supplements or exclusion or elimination diets. 

Neurodiversity like ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or autism cannot be treated with exclusion and elimination diets.

We do not recommend exclusionary or elimination diets like gluten-free, casein-free or ketogenic diets to treat ADHD or autism. 

Neurodiversity cannot be treated with fatty acid, vitamin, mineral or dietary supplements like vitamin B6, omega 3 or iron supplements. We do not recommend using supplements to treat ADHD or autism.

Dietary Modification in the Management of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). A non-randomized Intervention Study – https://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy/research/students/2005/ElizabethParker.pdf.

Overall, there is a growing interest in the use of dietary modification in the management of ASD. Results indicate that food sensitivity to wide range of foods is a common finding in a subpopulation of children with ASD. Children with ASD that respond favourably to the GF/CF diet may further benefit from the removal of foods containing high levels of artificial and natural chemicals. In children who responded well to dietary exclusion, it remains unclear if food intolerance has a role in the cause of autism, or is just a symptom of the disorder. Further research is needed using larger numbers and investigating the effects of combining a GF/CF with low chemical diet.

Early evidence indicates that people with anxiety and PTSD may benefit from eating a diet low in glutamate 1. Some people with PTSD experience non celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS)2. According the RPAH allergy unit there is often an association with NCGS and food intolerance (salicylates, amines and glutamate); and also concern with milk and soy 3

If you are experiencing anxiety and PTSD you may find resources from Phoenix Australia beneficial (https://www.phoenixaustralia.org). Some people may also benefit from DBT tools. These tools are best used under the supervision of a mental health professional.

Sources

  1. Brandley ET, Kirkland AE, Baron M, Baraniuk JN, Holton KF. The Effect of the Low Glutamate Diet on the Reduction of Psychiatric Symptoms in Veterans With Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized-Controlled Trial. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Jun 20;13:926688. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.926688. PMID: 35795023; PMCID: PMC9251130.
  2. The Connection Between PTSD and Food https://militarywellness.org/the-connection-between-ptsd-and-food-4/
  3. https://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/RPA/allergy/resources/foodintol/wheat-gluten-reaction.pdf