Leaky Gut Syndrome

Every day, thousands of toxic chemicals enter the body through the mouth. Most of them pass through the digestive tract and exit out of the body. We make this natural detox mechanism possible because our gut is so complicated and highly intelligent organ that only certain foods can pass through the intestinal wall. The digestive tract is covered by tiny cells call epithelial cells, and there are very small spaces (10-15 Angstrom=1-1.5 nanometer!) called tight junctions between them through where nutrients can cross. Most toxic substances are bigger than those spaces so they can’t enter into the body. However, these tight junctions for some reason become wider and stay open and toxins freely enter the body. This problem is now called Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS).

LGS is associated with a variety of diseases. They include:

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
  • Joint pain
  • Obesity
  • Depression
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Autoimmune disorders (Thyroid, etc.)
  • Irritable Bowel Disease
  • Pediatric disorders
  • Autism

They seem to be many, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. Recent study reveals more diseases are associated with LGS.

So how we develop LGS? You will be amazed so many foods or chemicals can cause LGS.

  • Refined sugar
  • Fast foods
  • Gluten
  • Casein (from Milk)
  • Processed foods
  • A low fiber diet
  • Antibiotics
  • Medications
  • Stress
  • Parasitic infections
  • Bacterial infections
  • Nutritional deficiency
  • Alcohol
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Stroke
  • Hormonal abnormalities
  • Autoimmune diseases

Chiropractors who specialize in nutrition or functional medicine can help you. It is often very difficult to find the cause of your LGS. Parasitic/bacterial infections or gluten sensitivities are often asymptomatic, so a blood or stool test may be required. There are many forms of stress—physical, psychological, mechanical, chemical, etc. Self-diagnosis is not the best way to solve LGS and can be very dangerous. If you suffer from the above-listed symptoms and are not sure what is causing them, please Contact Us or your local chiropractor.

References:

Turner, J. R. (2006). Molecular basis of epithelial barrier regulation: from basic mechanisms to clinical application. The American Journal of Pathology, 169(6), 1901–1909.

Zen, K., Chen, C. X., Chen, Y. T., Wilton, R., & Liu, Y. (2007). Receptor for advanced glycation endproducts mediates neutrophil migration across intestinal epithelium. J Immunol., 178(4), 2483–2490.

Purohit, V., Bode, J. C., Bode, C., Brenner, D. a., Choudhry, M. a., Hamilton, F., … Turner, J. R. (2008). Alcohol, intestinal bacterial growth, intestinal permeability to endotoxin, and medical consequences: Summary of a symposium. Alcohol, 42(5), 349–361.

Maes, M., Coucke, F., & Leunis, J.-C. (2007). Normalization of the increased translocation of endotoxin from gram negative enterobacteria (leaky gut) is accompanied by a remission of chronic fatigue syndrome. Neuro Endocrinology Letters, 28(6), 739–44.

Maes M. Mihaylova I, Kubera M, Leunis JC. (2008) An IgM-mediated immune response directed against nitro-bovine serum albumin (nitro-BSA) in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and major depression: evidence that nitrosative stress is another factor underpinning the comorbidity between major depression and CFS. Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 29(3):313-319

Vaarala, O. (1999). Gut and the induction of immune tolerance in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes/metabolism Research and Reviews, 15(5), 353–61.

Sandek, A., Rauchhaus, M., Anker, S. D., & von Haehling, S. (2008). The emerging role of the gut in chronic heart failure. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 11(5), 632–9.

Fasano, A., & Shea-Donohue, T. (2005). Mechanisms of disease: the role of intestinal barrier function in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal autoimmune diseases. Nature Clinical Practice. Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Salim, S. Y., & Söderholm, J. D. (2011). Importance of disrupted intestinal barrier in inflammatory bowel diseases. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 17(1), 362–381.

Cani, P. D., & Delzenne, N. M. (2010). Involvement of the gut microbiota in the development of low grade inflammation associated with obesity: focus on this neglected partner. Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica, 73(2), 267–9.

Liu, Z., Li, N., & Neu, J. (2005). Tight junctions, leaky intestines, and pediatric diseases. Acta Paediatrica, 94(4), 386–393.

Russo, a J. (2009). Anti-metallothionein IgG and levels of metallothionein in autistic children with GI disease. Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety, 1, 1–8.