Differentiating Food Allergies and Intolerances: The Role of EDN 

Accurate identification of food allergies and intolerances is essential for managing symptoms and preventing adverse outcomes. While traditional methods like IgE testing and skin prick tests play a vital role, they might not always detect all instances, particularly those involving intestinal inflammation. Research highlights Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) as a significant biomarker to help when differentiating food allergies and intolerances and assessing the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. 

Measuring EDN to Differentiate Food Allergies and Intolerances 

EDN, a cationic glycoprotein released by activated eosinophils, exhibits potent cytotoxic properties and plays a crucial role in virus prevention. Eosinophils release EDN in tissues like the skin, lungs, urogenital, and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts—key entry points for pathogens. The buildup of EDN in the intestine is linked with tissue damage.  

Stool EDN testing can be a helpful method when assessing a food allergy with an immediate reaction or testing the efficiency of an elimination diet. Furthermore, measuring EDN levels in stool can support the examination of the intestinal mucus when investigating inflammatory intestinal diseases, colon carcinoma, or intestinal parasites  

Traditional methods of detecting allergies, such as determining allergy-specific IgE antibodies and the skin prick test, are only reliable for confirming certain types of allergies. For instance, normal IgE levels and a negative skin prick test do not rule out an intestinal food allergy. In such cases, measuring EDN in stool is recommended. 

Analyzing EDN in stool can serve as an objective method to investigate chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal area. EDN measurement allows for predicting disease activity and evaluating colitis and Crohn’s disease. 

Key Benefits of Measuring EDN in Food Allergy and Intolerance 

In the context of food allergies and intolerances, measuring EDN in stool can offer several advantages: 

• Differentiating Food Allergies and Intolerances: While IgE testing is effective for identifying immediate allergic reactions, EDN measurement may be helpful in distinguishing between food allergies and intolerances, especially in cases where IgE levels are inconclusive. 

• Assessing Intestinal Inflammation in Food Reactions: Elevated EDN levels in stool can indicate chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, suggesting its potential involvement in food allergies, food intolerances, and other inflammatory conditions of the gut. 

• Monitoring Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity: For individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like colitis or Crohn’s disease, EDN measurement serves as a valuable tool for assessing disease activity and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment interventions. 

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) analysis represents a valuable tool for laboratories to help differentiate food allergies from intolerances and assess intestinal inflammation. By incorporating EDN measurement into test offerings, labs can help advance food allergy and food intolerance research by providing a more comprehensive assessment of the intestinal mucosa.