NTP Food Sensitivities & Allergies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which immunoglobulin is primarily responsible for IgE-mediated food allergy reactions?
- IgA
- IgG
- IgE (Correct answer)
- IgM
Correct answer: IgE
IgE antibodies bind to mast cells and basophils, triggering immediate hypersensitivity reactions upon re-exposure to allergens.
Question 2: A client reports bloating and gas 24-48 hours after consuming wheat but has no positive IgE test. This pattern is most consistent with:
- Celiac disease
- Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (Correct answer)
- Wheat allergy
- Lactose intolerance
Correct answer: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity produces delayed GI symptoms without the IgE-mediated response or intestinal villous atrophy seen in celiac disease.
Question 3: Which component of the gut barrier serves as the first line of defense against food antigens?
- Tight junctions
- Secretory IgA (sIgA)
- Mucus layer (Correct answer)
- Peyer's patches
Correct answer: Mucus layer
The mucus layer physically traps and limits contact between food antigens and epithelial cells before sIgA and tight junctions play their roles.
Question 4: Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is caused by cross-reactivity between food proteins and:
- Dust mites
- Latex
- Pollen (Correct answer)
- Mold spores
Correct answer: Pollen
OAS occurs when proteins in raw fruits and vegetables cross-react with structurally similar pollen proteins, causing localized mouth and throat itching.
Question 5: In NTP practice, leaky gut is considered a primary driver of food sensitivities because it allows:
- Decreased stomach acid production
- Large undigested food particles to enter systemic circulation (Correct answer)
- Overgrowth of beneficial bacteria
- Increased bile acid secretion
Correct answer: Large undigested food particles to enter systemic circulation
Intestinal hyperpermeability allows incompletely digested proteins to cross the gut barrier, triggering immune responses and sensitization.
Question 6: Which dietary intervention is most foundational for reducing food sensitivity burden according to NTP principles?
- Supplementing with antihistamines
- Supporting digestive capacity and gut integrity (Correct answer)
- Eliminating all carbohydrates
- Taking high-dose vitamin C
Correct answer: Supporting digestive capacity and gut integrity
NTP emphasizes restoring digestion and gut barrier integrity as root-cause approaches rather than symptom suppression.
Question 7: A client on an elimination diet reintroduces eggs and experiences joint pain two days later. This delayed response is mediated primarily by:
- IgE antibodies
- IgG antibodies (Correct answer)
- Complement proteins
- Natural killer cells
Correct answer: IgG antibodies
IgG-mediated (Type III) hypersensitivity reactions are delayed, occurring hours to days after exposure and involving immune complex deposition.
NTP Food Sensitivities & Allergies 2
Which immunoglobulin is primarily responsible for IgE-mediated food allergy reactions?