"Leaky gut" has been getting a lot of attention lately, especially from people who are interested in natural health. Leaky gut, also called increased intestinal permeability, is a condition in which toxins and bacteria can "leak" through the intestinal wall and can cause leaky gut symptoms.

A leaky gut is not seen as a real condition by some doctors. But there is a lot of evidence from science that a leaky gut is real and may be linked to a number of health problems.

Read on to learn all about leaky gut syndrome and leaky gut symptoms.

 

 

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Your gut has a wall around it that looks like a net with small holes. These small holes act like filters, allowing only certain elements to pass through. The gut wall acts like a barrier to keep the bigger, more threatening substances from getting into your body [1].

When someone has a "leaky gut," it means that the lining of their gut is damaged and can't protect them as well as it used to. The smaller holes get bigger and allow harmful substances like bad bacteria, gluten, and bits of food that haven't been digested into your body to pass through, where they do a lot of damage to your health.

 

 

 

What Are the Symptoms of The Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Symptoms of the leaky gut syndrome include:

• Changes in the digestive system such as bloating, diarrhea, gas, and irritable bowel syndrome

• Seasonal allergies or asthma

• Fibromyalgia

• Hormonal problems like Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) (Premenstrual Syndrome) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

• Autoimmune diseases, such as celiac disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and lupus erythematosus.

• Skin problems such as acne, eczema, and rosacea.

• Mental health problems like anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

• Other leaky gut symptoms include candida infection, food allergies, and Joint pain or arthritis.

 

 

 

How can Leaky Gut Syndrome Be Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of leaky gut is very difficult to determine. However, there is one particular test that some doctors will use to test intestinal permeability. The lactulose and mannitol tests are the name of the test [2].

Both of these substances are molecules that dissolve in water and that the body can't use.  But some people with healthy intestinal inner lining can absorb mannitol easily, but since lactulose is a bigger molecule, it is only slightly absorbed.

So, a person with leaky gut syndrome is told to drink a solution that has both of these molecules, and for the next six hours, their urine is gathered and examined. A normal test will show a significant amount of mannitol and a decreased level of lactulose.

If both are found at high levels, it means that the intestinal wall is more permeable. If decreased amounts of both substances are found, it means that all nutrients are not being well taken.

It's important to know that this test is only a sign of how permeable the small intestine is and can't diagnose leaky gut syndrome for sure. Most doctors don't use this test because they don't think it's very accurate. That is because increased intestinal permeability is also a sign of many other diseases, so it shouldn't be used as a surefire way to diagnose leaky gut syndrome.

Additionally, doing so could keep a person from getting treatment for a more serious illness. Therefore, it is best to talk to a gastroenterologist for advice, since they are experts in digestive health and the GI tract.

 

 

 

What (Chronic) Illnesses Can Be Caused or Affected By The LGS?

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The leaky gut syndrome has been linked to numerous diseases. It is thought that when "toxins" from the digestive tract enter the bloodstream, they can trigger an inflammatory reaction. Many of these conditions, including metabolic disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, and fibromyalgia, may be influenced by persistent low-grade inflammation. There is still a lot of mystery around the rest of this.

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

When we have a leaky gut or more intestinal permeability, our body's immune system is often triggered. It happens when there is a large hole, or hap, in the gut wall. This allows big protein molecules that haven't been digested into the bloodstream.

 It may then boost the immune response, causing the T cells to begin creating antibodies against these larger molecules, which can ultimately lead to an autoimmune disorder [3].

 

Neurodermatitis

The "gut-skin connection theory" was first put forward more than 70 years ago. It says that increased intestinal hyperpermeability can lead to a number of skin conditions, especially psoriasis and Neurodermatitis.

For these skin problems, doctors often prescribe drugs and creams with a long list of (sometimes dangerous) side effects. However, there have been signs for decades that a part of the cause might be in the gut.

 

Gut Problems

It is still not clear whether LGS is a cause or a symptom of these conditions.  However, a study suggested that increased intestinal permeability may contribute to the development of inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, increased permeability was seen before the development of the IBS which suggests that increased IP may contribute to the development of the IBS [4].

 

 

What Could Be The Cause For The Leaky Gut Syndrome?

A leaky gut is often caused by what you eat. Some of the foods that we ate every day include dairy, soy, and gluten. These foods may make our bodies think they are foreign invaders that needed to be fought off.  So, when a person eats these foods, the immune system goes to war.

 To fight off these food particles, our body makes antibodies, which affect normal cells in our body and as well as disrupt the normal intestinal barrier and this activity results in diarrhea, tiredness, and pain in joints [5].

Additionally, another major cause of developing leaky gut is the use of certain drugs.  Research shows that over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and some drugs like steroids, and antibiotics can also cause a leaky gut because they irritate the digestive system lining and damage the mucus layers that protect it. This irritation can start or keep going the cycle of inflammation that leads to leaky gut symptoms.

 

 

What Therapies Can Help To Heal The Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Scientists are still looking into how different treatments can help improve overall health and the health of the gut lining. Even though these therapies may not be able to treat a pathological disease, they may help in alleviating the effects of everyday things like diet, and bacterial overgrowth that can damage the lining of your gut.

They might even help with your stomach problems in general. Some treatments are:

Nutrition

Your gut can be made stronger by eating a well-balanced diet with all the macronutrients and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) you need. The two famous minerals L-glutamine and Vitamin D may help repair the lining of your gut.

 

Probiotics

 Different probiotics are being examined individually, to see if they can help restore the function of the gut barrier. But in general, probiotics might help keep your gut lining healthy by stopping the bad bacteria from growing too much in your gut, especially in your small intestine [6].

 

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are food for the good bacteria in your gut, which helps them fight better. Most of the time, they come from plants. This is yet another reason to eat your vegetables.

 

Low FODMAP Diet

People with IBS and certain food sensitivities are often told to try this specific diet because it takes out most of the common food triggers. If you only use it for a short time, it may give your gut the rest it needs to heal and show you which foods can trigger this syndrome.

 

Cut down on the fats and sugars you eat

These things cause the bad type of bacteria to grow in your gut, and they also cause your body to release harsh substances that can make your gut hurt.

 

Limit the Use of NSAIDs

As we have already discussed that leaky gut syndrome can be caused by over-the-counter drugs, so it is best to avoid such drugs during this condition [7].

 

 

What Else Should I Know And Do About The LGS?

In addition to the problems, a leaky gut can cause your child to not get enough food or to grow and develop slowly. During digestion, the bloodstream gets the important nutrients that children need. If a child's gut is leaking or not working right, they might not get enough of the nutrients they need. And, of course, it's a cycle because malnutrition makes it harder for the gut to heal or repair itself.

 

 

References

1. Arrieta, M. C., Bistritz, L., & Meddings, J. B. (2006). Alterations in intestinal permeability. Gut, 55(10), 1512–1520. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2005.085373

2. Kiefer, D., & Ali-Akbarian, L. (2004). a brief EVIDENCE-BASED REVIEW OF TWO GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESSES: IRRITABLE BOWEL AND LEAKY GUT SYNDROMES. Integrative Medicine, 3(3)

3. Mu, Q., Kirby, J., Reilly, C. M., & Luo, X. M. (2017). The leaky gut as a dangerous signal for autoimmune diseases. Frontiers in immunology, 598.

4. Gecse, K., Róka, R., Séra, T., Rosztóczy, A., Annaházi, A., Izbéki, F., ... & Wittmann, T. (2012). Leaky gut in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and inactive ulcerative colitis. Digestion, 85(1), 40-46.

5. Camilleri, M. (2019). Leaky gut: mechanisms, measurement and clinical implications in humans. Gut, 68(8), 1516-1526.

6. Rosenfeldt V, Benfeldt E, Valerius NH, Paerregaard A, Michaelsen KF. Effect of probiotics on gastrointestinal symptoms and small intestinal permeability in children with atopic dermatitis. J Pediatr. 2004 Nov;145(5):612-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2004.06.068. PMID: 15520759.

7. Bjarnason I, Takeuchi K. Intestinal permeability in the pathogenesis of NSAID-induced enteropathy. J Gastroenterol. 2009;44 Suppl 19:23-9. DOI: 10.1007/s00535-008-2266-6. Epub 2009 Jan 16. PMID: 19148789.

 

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