Gut health – What the heck is a leaky gut?

Leaky gut refers to increased permeability of the intestinal wall, a key issue in gut health. This condition is associated with medical issues like Crohn’s disease, intestinal infections, and untreated celiac disease. Certain anti-inflammatory medications can also affect gut health by increasing intestinal permeability.

Damage to the intestinal mucosa usually causes this increased permeability. As a result, the tight junctions between intestinal cells loosen, allowing larger particles—such as foreign substances, proteins, viruses, bacteria, or environmental toxins—to pass into the bloodstream. This can raise the risk of infections or trigger allergic and autoimmune responses, impacting overall gut health.

Common symptoms of increased intestinal permeability

Since the increased permeability allows unwanted particles to enter the bloodstream, the resulting symptoms can be variable. Some common symptoms include:

• Digestive symptoms such as flatulence, bloating
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic fatigue
• Skin symptoms
• Food sensitivities

What can cause increased intestinal permeability?

Imbalances in the body are almost always the sum of many things, but the following factors can contribute to an increase in intestinal permeability:

• Intestinal infections
• Intestinal diseases
• Disturbed intestinal bacterial balance (dysbiosis)
• Bad diet
• Alcohol
• Smoking
• Chronic stress
• Antibiotics
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Cytostats

Testing for increased intestinal permeability

The permeability of the intestinal wall can be measured using the lactulose-mannitol test. It measures the ratio of these two different molecules in the urine; that is, the amount of lactulose and mannitol excreted in the urine during six hours, after the subject has consumed a solution containing these molecules. Small molecules such as glucose and mannitol easily penetrate the cell wall. On the other hand, larger molecules such as lactulose do not pass through the cell wall by diffusion. Thus, if the tight cell junctions of the intestinal wall are functioning optimally, they should prevent the passage of lactulose. In the test, lactulose acts as a marker for the integrity of the mucous membrane.

How can increased intestinal permeability be treated?

The intestinal wall is grateful for the treatment, as it renews itself very quickly. Food sensitivities can complicate the situation, so it can be good to determine and eliminate them during the treatment. Omega-3 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory properties, can be a useful addition to the treatment of the intestines. Similarly, among the amino acids, glutamine has been found to accelerate the regeneration of the intestinal wall.

You should also remember the importance of a healthy microbiome and probiotics for intestinal health, especially s.boulladii, Lactobacillus casei, and bifidobacteria have been found to have positive effects. Short-chain fatty acids also contribute to intestinal health, as do the important fat-soluble vitamins A and D.

Conclusion

If you’re struggling with bloating or digestive issues, it could be a sign of leaky gut. This condition allows harmful substances to enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation. With the right diet, stress management, and probiotics, healing is possible. To get started, check out the Bloated Belly program for simple steps to support your gut health and reduce discomfort.