Understanding Leaky gut: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.

Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.

All Conditions

Leaky gut

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Intestinal permeability

General

A theory of leaky gut syndrome argues that intestinal permeability is not only a symptom but also an underlying cause of gastrointestinal diseases. Toxins may enter your bloodstream if your intestinal barrier is impaired. As a result of these toxins, various diseases may manifest as an inflammatory response.

69 people with Leaky gut are on Alike.

"Alike is the place to get answers from people who firsthand share your health challenges"

Signs & symptoms

Intestinal permeability does not directly cause symptoms. It is usually caused by injury to your intestinal lining, and you might experience symptoms as a result. Here are some examples: You feel as if you have an ulcer in your gut. Intestinal mucosa loss causes painful indigestion. Having diarrhea Overgrowth of bacteria in your gut causes gas and bloating. Reduced ability to draw energy from food results in low energy levels. Radiation-induced gastrointestinal mucositis.

Diagnosis

Intestinal hyperpermeability is not currently a medical diagnosis because there is no standard test to measure it directly in patients. Clinical research is currently investigating several types of tests for detecting intestinal permeability in patients. Among the tests are: Test of the urine. The test involves drinking a solution containing different kinds of sugars with different sizes of molecules, some of which are not normally absorbed by the intestines. In order to determine which sugars made it through your gut, analysts measure the levels of sugar in your urine. Testing of the blood. A sample of your blood is analyzed for evidence of gut bacteria infiltration. Analysts look for specific antibodies and endotoxins as biomarkers. Biopsy of tissue. An Using chamber examines a sample of your intestinal tissue. Electrical current is used to measure ion transport across the intestinal barrier. Water transport is parallel to ion transport. Optical endomicroscopy. An enhanced endoscopy allows scientists to examine your intestinal lining in high resolution and magnification. A contrast fluid injected into your vein may show up in your gut if there is a hole in the lining.

Treatment

A leaky gut can only be cured by treating the underlying condition.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

Latest Discussions

Alika

Introducing Myself to the Community

NoeliaVR

Looking for others with fructose malabsorption and...

Chemrow

Dealing with Gut Related Issues

ToastedBread

Struggling with Severe Acne and Healthcare Providers

Mimi28

Exploring Alternative Medicine: Tips and Tricks

Wolfgang3

Struggling with Insomnia and Leaky Gut

Alike Wisdom

Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences