Leaky gut syndrome is an issue that cannot be ignored if we are thinking about improving our health.
Hippocrates already used to say that “all diseases begin in the gut,” and as you can see, he knew what he was talking about. Think about what would happen if bacteria got into an environment where they do not naturally occur? What about toxins? Among other things, our immune system goes into overdrive, because its job is to eliminate intruders.
Leaky gut syndrome – what is it?
Of course, leaky gut syndrome is not the only name you may have come across. Holey, permeable, and leaky gut are terms describing a condition associated with inflammation in the area of the intestinal lining. In that case, damage occurs leading to increased permeability. At this point, bacteria, fungi, toxins, food residues, and large protein molecules get into the bloodstream.
The consequence of this is an increased immune response, whose purpose is to protect the body and therefore eliminate “foreign bodies.” This phenomenon is most often associated with chronic, health-threatening inflammation.
What problems accompany people suffering from leaky gut syndrome?
- problems with bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation),
- headaches and joint pain,
- irritable bowel syndrome,
- skin problems (e.g. acne),
- general fatigue and weakness,
- depressive states
Leaky gut syndrome – where does it come from?
Many people, including specialists, still do not take something like leaky gut syndrome into account. In a way, there is no reason to be surprised, because it is rather difficult to diagnose this condition unequivocally. Mainly because it does not necessarily have to cause symptoms only from the digestive system. In addition, many factors affect intestinal permeability:
- a poor, improper diet, rich in sugar, grains, lectins, highly processed products,
- Candida overgrowth,
- disturbances in the bacterial flora,
- antibiotics,
- NSAIDs,
- PPIs,
- excessive inflammation,
- amino acid deficiencies (especially glutamine and glycine),
- excess Omega 6,
- hormonal disorders,
- fungal infections,
- parasitic infections,
- too little hydrochloric acid,
- an imbalance between pro-oxidative and antioxidant processes,
- chronic stress,
- hypothyroidism,
- vitamin D deficiency.
How do you detect leaky gut syndrome?
In 2000, a group of researchers led by Fasano discovered a molecule that acts as a modulator of the permeability of cells in the intestinal wall. This is zonulin, which is a protein of the so-called tight junctions between enterocytes.
It is responsible for regulating the size of the gaps between cells. It therefore affects the passage of both beneficial nutrients and harmful compounds (e.g. gluten particles). In this case, the marker indicating the degree of leakiness will be an increase in zonulin levels in stool.
Interestingly, elevated zonulin levels have also been observed in people with type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune diseases. Do you remember Hippocrates' words? Exactly, “all diseases begin in the gut.”
One of the standard diagnostic tests is the mannitol and lactulose test. We drink a beverage made up of both of these ingredients, and then a urine test is performed (after about 6 h) to determine their levels. Lactulose is only partially absorbed and is characterized by larger molecules.
A healthy person, in the results of the tested urine sample, should have high mannitol and low lactulose. Thanks to this method, we can determine whether the problem lies in permeability (leaky gut syndrome) or in absorption.
Leaky gut syndrome – how to deal with it?
As I mentioned, leaky gut syndrome can be caused by various factors. Therefore, treatment must be chosen appropriately to the underlying cause of the problem.
Remember that, whenever possible, you should always try to eliminate the source of the problem, and not only the symptoms. So I will not give a ready-made recipe, but only list elements that may work in favor of the gut, but... the first step should always be tests. On their basis, we determine the next actions.
It is worth taking care of digestive processes, e.g. by including apple cider vinegar. Similarly, fermented foods usually have a positive effect, especially when combined with appropriately selected probiotics. The matter may be different if we have a histamine issue. It is a good idea to ensure optimal amounts of glutamine, glycine, and proline. We also limit carbohydrate intake (especially simple ones).
And supplements? Well, apart from good probiotics beneficially affecting the
bacterial flora, it is worth considering sodium butyrate, which works well both for sealing the gut and for the renewal of intestinal villi. Some sources recommend supplementation with
glutamine because of its beneficial effect on the intestinal mucosa. Sometimes a good option is adding digestive enzymes or betaine HCl.
