The concerns of DIY functional health testing

In today's health-conscious world, at-home testing kits are available for everything, from food intolerances to gut microbiome analysis and these have become increasingly popular. While these tests can provide interesting insights, interpreting the results without professional guidance can be confusing at best and dangerous at worst.

Why you need a qualified registered nutritional therapist (RNT)

Here's why working with a fully qualified RNT is crucial when it comes to health testing and using the information to support health improvement whether by making dietary changes or lifestyle ones.

Conflict of interest with testing companies

Companies that sell at-home test kits, without any qualified result-based consultation, have a financial incentive to encourage multiple tests for a multitude of symptoms. The testing companies doing this have no sense of responsibility to you as a customer and they are in it to purely make money. A RNT can assess your health and objectively determine which tests, if any, are truly necessary for each situation. RNT tend to be passionate about their work and the latest evidence-based theories, they don’t make a lot of money and are generally in practice to support their clients.

Information overload and misinterpretation

This week I had a discovery call with a young woman, who said that she had spent a lot of money on functional tests via a nutritionist’s website. The website owner claimed to be registered with BANT (I did a quick search on BANT’s register and they did not exist). The website did not offer consultations to discuss results, but they did provide a list of RNT’s that clients could approach with the test results for support should they wish.

The woman revealed that she had many symptoms, no diagnosis and was taking multiple supplements. At this stage, she said that she had received a positive test for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and her priority seemed to be to find someone who had experience of working with SIBO and we talked about this during her phone call. She also revealed that she was waiting for some further test results.

Seven days and six emails later, she was still asking questions about how I would manage her symptoms. I explained my holistic approach, and explained that I couldn’t comment on her test results or her personal situation without the full picture. The woman then sent me a list of 11 supplements she was claiming to take regularly and asked my advice, I told her that 11 supplements seemed like a lot. By day seven, the woman shared the news that more test results had been received and she was now positive for H.Pylori, Candia and a variant of E.Coli, it was at this point she let it slip that the SIBO test was borderline, not positive as stated initially.

The full picture support

A qualified RNT looks at the whole picture so that they can provide crucial support for symptoms. They may suggest testing when they know the full picture and will follow up to explain findings, and develop an action plan that the client can adopt with food swaps and behaviour change tips and coaching, the RNT will assess regularly and monitor progress over time. There is rarely a quick fix, and it is important to let clients know that they will need to adopt new behaviours and be consistent over time for continued health improvement. Without this ongoing support, clients often struggle to implement lasting dietary changes, which may result in continued poor health.

The case of this woman illustrates how easy it is to become overwhelmed by stand-alone test results, believing that a borderline result was positive when the margins are already broad. After receiving her GI map results showing elevated levels of various bacteria and other markers, she was selectively picking Google advice that offered a quick fix solution and asking my advice. I suggested that she trust her GP, who knew her full history, as I couldn’t comment without the full picture. She asked about herbal protocols and somatic therapies, rather than addressing the root cause of the issue which is all too common. She was confused about what it all meant for her long-term health and her gut microbiome but wasn’t considering how it all got to this point in the first place.

Without proper training, it's all too easy to misinterpret complex lab data or draw incorrect conclusions from the internet about how to ‘fix’ it. Quite often test results are seen out of context, without dietary data and they fail to be part of a bigger holistic picture.

Test results in isolation don't tell the full story of someone's health. A qualified nutritional therapist will consider the following before they suggest testing so that they can put test results in proper context:

• complete health history – from type of birth
• familial health history
• dietary analysis
• medication interactions and side effects
• supplement interactions and side effects
• lifestyle factors
• symptoms

When a RNT is informed of all relevant information they can then determine which findings are most relevant and develop a personalised plan which may or may not include a test. I personally consider the seven systems of functional medicine, assimilation, defence and repair, energy, biotransformation and elimination, transport, communication and structural integrity. I also think that emotional well-being, loneliness and stress levels play a significant role in a person’s health.

Potential for harmful self-treatment

If someone receives test results but lacks expert guidance, they may attempt risky self-diagnosis and treatments that they have looked up online. For example, this woman had googled herbal remedies for SIBO that have no grounding in scientific evidence and was asking if this would be the approach I would take.

In her internet research, she had read about the detrimental effects of antibiotics on gut health and asked me for advice on whether she should take the antibiotics that had been prescribed by her GP for H. pylori. I patiently explained that a RNT cannot diagnose, claim to treat, or prescribe but they can work in conjunction with a client’s doctor or professional health provider to find a safe and personalised plan. I find more and more that I will be in contact with a client’s GP during the consultation process and this is always beneficial.

Proper credentials

Not all "nutritionists" have equal training and qualifications. As this woman discovered, some people claiming to be practitioners may not even be registered with professional bodies like BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine), yet they call themselves a nutritionist. Before engaging a RNT always verify credentials on the register to which they claim to belong.
 
To ensure your RNT is fully qualified and experienced, here are some key steps to take:

1. Check their credentials and registration. Look for RNTs who are registered with reputable professional bodies like BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) and CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council). These organisations have strict standards for education and evidence-based professional practice.
2. Verify their qualifications. Properly qualified RNT should have completed accredited courses recognised by BANT, typically at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. Ask about their specific educational background in nutritional therapy.
3. Ensure they follow evidence-based practices. RNTs should use the latest scientific research to inform their recommendations and should be able to point to the research paper they reference.
4. Ask about their approach. Reputable therapists take a personalised, holistic approach considering your full health history and individual needs.
5. Verify their commitment to ongoing education. BANT-registered therapists are required to complete continuing professional development (at least 30 hours per year).
6. Be wary of those making extravagant claims or primarily selling tests and supplements. Qualified therapists focus on personalised dietary and lifestyle changes rather than pushing lots of products.

While health testing can provide valuable information, interpreting results and making dietary changes requires professional expertise. A qualified RNT has the training to analyse test data in context, develop personalised recommendations, and provide ongoing support for your health journey. Don't put your health at risk by going it alone - partner with a credentialed expert to achieve optimal wellness.

Conclusion

Nutritional testing can provide valuable insights, but it should not replace traditional medical diagnosis and treatment. Consider the following when thinking about working with a RNT:

• Nutritional testing and therapy should complement, not replace, conventional medical care. A qualified RNT will work in conjunction with a client's doctors, not in place of them.
• RNT’s are not trained or licensed to diagnose or treat medical conditions. A RNT relies on your GP for diagnosis of your health issues. You should always consult your GP first.
• While nutritional testing can identify deficiencies or imbalances, it cannot diagnose diseases. Medical tests ordered by doctors are still necessary for proper diagnosis of health conditions.
• Nutritional therapy focuses on supporting overall health through diet and lifestyle changes. It does not claim to cure or treat specific diseases.
• Functional tests used in nutritional therapy (like stool analysis, hormone panels, etc.) can provide useful information, but should be interpreted alongside medical tests and examinations for a complete picture.

While nutritional testing and therapy can be valuable complementary approaches, they should be used alongside, not instead of, traditional medical care and diagnosis. A collaborative approach between doctors and nutritional professionals often provides the best outcomes for patients.