What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

[Guest guest]

http://altmedicine.about.com/b/a/088504.htm

 

May 27, 2004What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability, affects the lining of

the intestines. Symptoms of leaky gut syndrome appear as vague, common health

concerns that many doctors dismiss, such as chronic muscle or joint pain, fuzzy

thinking, indigestion, gas, mood swings, nervousness, skin rashes, recurrent

bladder or yeast infections, constipation, anxiety, or just feeling " toxic " .

Learn more about this condition and find out the causes, symptoms, associated

conditions, and tests for leaky gut syndrome.

 

The lining of the intestines is a barrier that normally only allows properly

digested fats, proteins, and starches pass through and enter the bloodstream. It

allows substances to pass in several ways.

 

Chloride, potassium, magnesium, sodium and free fatty acids diffuse through

intestinal cells. Amino acids, fatty acids, glucose, minerals, and vitamins also

cross through cells, but they do it by another mechanism called active

transport.

 

There's a third way substances can pass through. The spaces in between the cells

that line the intestines are normally sealed. These tight junctions are called

desmosomes. When the intestinal lining becomes irritated, the junctions loosen

and allow unwanted larger molecules in the intestines to pass through into the

blood.zSB(3,3);if(!z336){var

zIsb=document.getElementById( " adsb " );if(zIsb){zIsb.style.display= " inline " ;zIsb.s\

tyle.height= " 0px " ;zIsb.style.width= " 0px " ;}var

zIss=document.getElementById( " adss " );if(zIss){zIss.style.display= " inline " ;zIss.s\

tyle.height= " 0px " ;zIss.style.width= " 0px " ;}} These unwanted substances are seen

by the immune system as foreign (because they aren't normally present in blood).

This triggers an antibody reaction.

 

When the intestinal lining becomes further damaged, even larger substances, such

as disease-causing bacteria, undigested food particles, and toxins, pass

directly through the damaged cells. Again, the immune system is alarmed and

antibodies and substances called cytokines are realeased. Cytokines alert white

blood cells to fight the particles. This fight produces oxidants, which cause

irritation and inflammation throughout the body.

 

Symptoms of Leaky gut syndrome / Intestinal permeability

Symptoms include: abdominal pain, asthma, chronic joint pain, chronic muscle

pain, confusion, fuzzy or foggy thinking, gas, indigestion, mood swings,

nervousness, poor immunity, recurrent vaginal infections, skin rashes, diarrhea,

bed-wetting, recurrent bladder infections, poor memory, shortness of breath,

constipation, bloating, aggressive behavior, anxiety, fatigue, feeling toxic.

 

Leaky gut syndrome is associated with the following conditions:

 

Autoimmune disease

 

Celiac disease

 

Crohn's disease

 

Environmental illness

 

Hives

 

Acne

 

Allergies

 

Inflammatory joint disease / arthritis

 

Intestinal infections

 

Pancreatic insufficiency

 

Ulcerative colitis

 

Giardia

 

Chronic fatigue syndrome

 

Eczema

 

Psoriasis

 

Food allergies and sensitivities

 

Liver dysfunction

 

Rheumatoid arthritis

 

Irritable bowel syndrome

 

Causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome / Intestinal Permeability

 

Chronic stress

 

Intestinal infections

 

Small intestine bacterial overgrowth

 

Environmental contaminants

 

Excess alcohol

 

Poor diet

 

NSAIDS and other medications

 

Testing

The standard test for leaky gut syndrome is the mannitol and lactulose test.

Both are water soluble molecules that the body can't use. Mannitol is easily

absorbed by people with healthy intestinal linings. Lactulose is a larger

molecule and is only slightly absorbed. A person drinks a solution contain both

mannitol and lactulose. Urine is collected for six hours and the amount present

in urine reflects how much was absorbed by the body. A healthy test shows high

levels of mannitol and low levels of lactulose. If high levels of both molecules

are found, it indicates a leaky gut condition. If low levels of both molecules

are found, it indicatioes general malabsorption of all nutrients.

 

 

 

 

 

Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger