Test for 'Leaky Gut'

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Test for Leaky Gut

 

Your Doctor can organize a test kit through:

http://www.liverdoctor.com/Section2/11_leakygut.asp

 

In Australia:

Analytical Reference Laboratories Pty Ltd

Postal - PO Box 279, North Melbourne 3051, Victoria, Australia

Laboratory - Ground Floor, 568 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004.

Telephone: (03) 9529 2922 Facsimile: (03) 9529 2822

Email: info Website: www.arlaus.com.au Est 1974

 

In the USA:

The Great Smokies Laboratories

18A Regent Park Boulevarde, Ashville

North Carolina, USA, 28806

Phone: (828) 285 2223

 

The test uses two sugars - mannitol (a monosaccharide) and lactulose

(a disaccharide). These are water soluble molecules that are not

metabolised by the body. Mannitol is readily absorbed, and lactulose

is only slightly absorbed. An oral dose containing 5g lactulose, 3g

mannitol in 10g of glycerol is given and a timed urine sample is

analysed for the ratio of the percentage recovery of lactulose and

mannitol.

 

 

 

Clinical Significance

Studies on a wide range of illnesses have demonstrated alterations

in the uptake of mono or disaccharides, or both and have correlated

these changes with clinical and pathological conditions. These

illnesses, which disrupt the structural barrier of the GI tract,

often result in pathologic changes in distant organs and tissues.

 

 

 

The permeation of water-soluble molecules through the intestinal

mucosa can occur either through cells (transcellular uptake) or

between cells (paracellular uptake).

 

Small molecules (mannitol) readily penetrate cells and passively

diffuse through them. Larger molecules such as disaccharides

(lactulose) normally are excluded by cells. The ratelimiting barrier

in this case is the " tight junction " between cells. Thus, tight

junctions help maintain the integrity of the gut wall. The

Intestinal Permeability test directly measures the ability of two

non metabilised sugar molecules - mannitol and lactulose - to

permeate the intestinal mucosa. Lactulose is only slightly absorbed

and serves as a marker for mucosal integrity. Mannitol is readily

absorbed and serves as a marker for transcellular uptake.

 

• Low levels of mannitol and lactulose indicate malabsorption.

• Elevated levels of mannitol and lactulose are indicative of

general increased permeability and " leaky gut " . Permeability to

mannitol may decrease, which is indicative of malabsorption of small

molecules.

• The lactulose/mannitol ratio is a useful parameter. An elevated

ratio indicates that the effective pore size of the gut mucosa has

increased, allowing access (to the body) of larger, possibly

antigenic molecules.

 

Note: Administration of therapeutic substances MUST be carried out

under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

 

Note: Application of this test to children between the ages of 2-12

MUST be conducted under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

Separate test kits are available for adults and children.

 

" THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FDA AND ARE NOT

INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ANY DISEASES "

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html