Recognising and Treating Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Your intestines are not completely impenetrable, and they shouldn’t be. The intestinal lining is a semi-permeable membrane that allows the passage of nutrients and water while blocking harmful substances. 

Leaky gut syndrome is a proposed intestinal condition which increases the permeability of your intestinal barrier due to damaged tight junctions between the cells that form your gut lining, allowing harmful substances like bacteria, toxins, and undigested food materials to pass into your bloodstream.

What causes it? The major factors that contribute to a leaky gut are:

• A poor diet that is high in refined sugars and unhealthy fats, processed foods, and alcohol.
• Chronic stress can alter the gut barrier through the gut-brain axis.
• Overuse of pain medications like NSAIDs or antibiotics.
• Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections of the gut.
• Gut dysbiosis or the imbalance in the normal gut microbiome.
• Food intolerances, such as lactose and gluten intolerance.
• Autoimmune conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells of the gut.

Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

A leaky gut can cause symptoms within as well as outside of your digestive tract. Let us look at its common symptoms:

1. Digestive Symptoms:

• Long-standing diarrhoea or constipation.
• Abdominal bloating or a feeling of fullness.
• Development of new food sensitivities or intolerances.
• Gas, and abdominal discomfort.
• Mucus in stools.

2. Systemic Symptoms:

• Low mood, depression, headaches or brain fog.
• Pain and inflammation of the joints.
• Skin issues like eczema, rosacea, or acne.
• Worsening of autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
• Weak immunity and frequent infections.
• Fatigue.

3. Nutritional Deficiencies:

Leaky gut syndrome can result in poor absorption of dietary nutrients by the intestine. It can lead to deficiencies of iron, magnesium, B vitamins, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, copper, calcium, and so on.

Diagnosing Leaky Gut Syndrome

While there are no standard diagnostic procedures, doctors perform a variety of tests to identify leaky gut syndrome.

• Urine Test:
  This involves drinking a solution which contains sugars of different molecular sizes and then testing the levels of these sugars in urine. This test allows your doctor to identify which sugars pass through the intestinal walls.
• Blood Test:
  Blood tests are done to look for the presence of gut bacteria and toxins in the bloodstream.
• Tissue Biopsy:
  A sample of your intestinal lining is studied under the microscope to look for abnormalities.
• Zonulin Testing:
  This test measures the levels of zonulin, a protein associated with gut barrier function.
• Stool Sample Analysis:
  Stool analysis allows the detection of imbalances in the gut microbiome and signs of inflammation of the gut.
• Food Sensitivity Testing:
  This can help identify potential triggers of increased gut permeability.

Natural Remedies and Treatments for Leaky Gut Syndrome

Symptoms of a leaky gut can be managed effectively using simple methods like dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, medications, and the use of supplements that promote gut health. Here are some natural remedies for a leaky gut:

Dietary Changes

Simple dietary adjustments, such as the inclusion of foods that support gut health, promote healing and avoid triggers, can improve the symptoms of leaky gut syndrome.

1. Eliminate Trigger Foods:

Avoid foods that can irritate the gut lining, like gluten, dairy, refined sugar, alcohol, processed foods, and foods that contain additives like preservatives, artificial colours, and flavours. Consider an elimination diet to identify and avoid trigger foods. 

2. Anti-Inflammatory Diet:

Gut inflammation can cause damage to the intestinal walls, leading to increased intestinal permeability. Include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet, such as berries, leafy greens, fatty fish, citrus fruits, and whole grains, to reduce gut inflammation and enhance the repair of a leaky gut.

3. Gut-Healing Foods:

Certain foods can help in faster healing of the damaged gut lining:

Bone broth is rich in collagen and amino acids like glutamine and glycine, which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Fermented foods like yoghurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir contain probiotics which provide good bacteria and keep your gut microbiome balanced.

Also include prebiotic-rich foods (foods that contain fibres which act as a food source for gut microbes) like apples, bananas, garlic, onions, and asparagus to keep your gut flora balanced.

Supplements

Dietary supplements for leaky gut syndrome include ingredients that support the health and integrity of your gastrointestinal tract. Common leaky gut repair supplements include:

1. L-Glutamine:

L-glutamine is an amino acid that helps in intestinal barrier function, repairs damaged tissues and reduces gut inflammation. This supplement is available in the form of powders, capsules, tablets and liquids.

2. Probiotics:

Just like probiotic foods, probiotic supplements also contain live microorganisms that provide you with health benefits when consumed. These supplements restore the balance of the gut microbiota and prevent the overgrowth of harmful microbes. Select probiotics that contain beneficial strains of bacteria, like lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.

3. Digestive Enzymes:

Digestive enzyme supplements help people with enzyme deficiencies digest their food and absorb nutrition. These supplements reduce the burden on your digestive system, giving it time to heal.

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids:

Various studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids exert beneficial effects on the gut microbiota and inhibit inflammatory responses.

5. Zinc Carnosine:

Zinc carnosine is a health food supplement that stimulates gut repair. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent.

6. Vitamin D:

Vitamin D is involved in maintaining tight cell junctions in the intestinal lining. Supplementation of vitamin D in leaky gut syndrome can regulate intestinal permeability and reduce the symptoms.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Common factors like stress, poor sleep, or a sedentary lifestyle, when ignored for a long time, can affect gut health and lead to increased gut permeability. Small changes to your lifestyle can make big differences in improving gut barrier function and managing leaky gut syndrome.

1. Stress Management:

Chronic stress primarily affects your mind, but it also affects your gut through the gut-brain axis. It disrupts intestinal barrier homeostasis, allowing harmful bacteria and toxins to pass into your bloodstream. Practising stress-relieving techniques like yoga, deep breathing exercises, or meditation can relieve stress and improve your gut health.

2. Regular Exercise:

Aerobic exercises stimulate the contraction of your intestinal muscles, improve gut motility, and also enhance your gut microbiome diversity. Moderate-intensity physical activities, like cycling, swimming, or walking, when done regularly, can support gut health restoration.

3. Sleep Hygiene:

Studies have shown that inadequate sleep can alter gut microbiota composition, which can exacerbate gut and digestion-related issues. At least 7 to 9 hours of good-quality sleep every night can improve digestion and reduce gut inflammation.

Medical Treatments for Severe Cases

Mild cases of Leaky gut syndrome can be managed effectively using diet and lifestyle modifications, as well as natural remedies. Leaky gut syndrome may require medical treatment when it is associated with other underlying health issues or if the symptoms are severe and do not relieve with natural remedies.  

Medical treatments for a leaky gut include:

• Anti-Inflammatory Medications:
  These medicines reduce gut inflammation and improve gut barrier functions in conditions like IBS or IBD.
• Antibiotics or Antimicrobials:
  If a leaky gut is caused by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria or infections, antibiotics are prescribed.
• Immunomodulators:
  Immunomodulators work by suppressing your immune system in conditions where gut damage is caused by autoimmune conditions.
• Antidepressants:
  If chronic stress is the cause of leaky gut syndrome, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants.

Preventing Leaky Gut Syndrome

Why deal with the struggles of treatment when you can prevent leaky gut syndrome before it starts? Here are some simple tips for you:

• Maintain a balanced diet packed with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These nutrient-rich foods are also good sources of fibre, which is beneficial for your gut health restoration.
• Limit the use of NSAIDs (pain-relieving medications) as overuse may cause irritation of the gut lining.
• Only take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Self-medication can be harmful and cause gut microbiome imbalances. Taking probiotics following antibiotics can reduce the impact it has on your gut microbes.
• Drink plenty of water. Hydration supports all bodily functions, including smooth digestion and overall gut health.
• Get regular checkups done to monitor other underlying health conditions that may contribute to gut issues.

Wrapping Up

The gut lining of a healthy individual is selectively permeable, allowing essential nutrients and water to pass through. However, in a leaky gut, this barrier becomes altered, permitting harmful toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing symptoms both within and beyond your digestive tract. 

Leaky gut syndrome can be managed by a combination of diet and lifestyle changes, stress management, supplements, and medications in severe cases. 

A healthy gut, a healthy you! Nurture your gut, and the health of your entire body will naturally fall into place.