LEAKY GUT SYNDROME

Digestive System

What Is It?

As food passes through the stomach into the small

intestine, nutrient absorption occurs through the semi-
permeable mucous lining of the wall of the small intestine.
This membrane also shields the bloodstream from
unwanted toxins, pathogens and undigested food. In this
respect, the gut lining is a vital part of the body’s immune
system because it limits the volume of potential invaders. Candida
Leaky gut syndrome (or increased intestinal permeability)
is a condition that develops when the mucous lining of Toxin
the small intestine becomes too porous, allowing entry
of toxins, microorganisms and food particles, as well as Parasite
pathogens, into the bloodstream. The function of the
mucous lining of the small intestine can be compared to
that of a window screen which lets air in, but keeps bugs
out. It is also like the skin in that it sloughs off a layer of
Bloodstream
cells naturally every three to five days, and produces new
cells to maintain healthy function.
An enlarged illustration of leaky gut formation
What Causes It?
• Chemical food additives (dyes, preservatives,
When digestion is impaired by such factors as stress, flavorings, etc.)
processed food consumption, inadequate chewing, • Pesticide-laden foods
excessive fluid intake with meals, improper food • Enzyme deficiencies (as found in celiac disease and
combining and overeating, it can lead to an excessively lactose intolerance)
permeable (leaky) gut. Here’s why: When bacteria present • Diet of refined carbohydrates (“junk” food)
in the intestine act upon undigested food particles, toxic • Prescription hormones (like birth control pills)
chemicals and gases are produced. These intestinal toxins, • Mold and fungal mycotoxins (in stored grains, fruit
known as endotoxins, can damage the mucosal lining and refined carbohydrates and found in
resulting in increased intestinal permeability. As a result water-damaged buildings)
of repeated attacks by these toxins, the gut lining erodes • Heightened exposure to environmental toxins
over time. This is the basic mechanism by which leaky gut • Dental toxins (from restorative materials and invasive
comes into being. It can also be caused or aggravated by a procedures)
number of other factors, including: • Free radicals
• Stress
• Alcohol (gut irritant)
• Caffeine (gut irritant) Perhaps the greatest contributors to leaky gut are
• Parasites (introduced into the body by contaminated the drugs listed below:
food and water)
• Pathogenic bacteria (introduced into the body by • NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
contaminated food and water) like aspirin and Motrin)
• Pathogenic Candida infection (due to overgrowth) • Antacids

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Digestive System

• Steroids (includes prescription corticosteroids such as carbohydrates and chemical food additives, which is,
prednisone and hydrocortisone) unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (SAD).
• Antibiotics (which lead to overgrowth of bad bacteria in
the GI tract) Anyone who has had significant toxic exposure may
develop leaky gut. Gut-damaging toxins may come from
Prolonged use of NSAIDs blocks the body’s natural ability pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites,
to repair the intestinal lining.1 Once endotoxins have or from chemicals and heavy metals in the environment
eroded this membrane, it becomes permeable rather than (or in the mouth in the form of dental restorations).
semi-permeable. (“The screen on your window gets holes Folks who have autoimmune diseases such as those listed
in it.”) Now the toxins, pathogens and food particles, below most likely have an underlying gut permeability
which would normally not be permitted to enter the problem as well.
system, literally leak into the bloodstream. The body then
attacks these unwanted toxins, developing antibodies to What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
fight the foreign substances.
The long-term net result of the leaky gut is the likely
People of any age can have leaky gut syndrome. Those development of autoimmune disease where the body
who regularly take any of the drugs listed previously attacks its own tissues. There are some 80 recognized
would very likely suffer from the syndrome whether autoimmune diseases. These include:
they’ve been diagnosed with it or not. People with
digestive problems (with or without symptoms) will • Lupus
probably have an underlying leaky gut condition, as will • Alopecia areata
people who routinely use large amounts of alcohol and • Rheumatoid arthritis
caffeine, and those who eat a diet that is high in refined • Polymyalgia

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• Multiple sclerosis rheumatica

INTESTINAL
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Celiac disease
• Vitiligo syndrome
• Thyroiditis

LEAKY GUT SYNDROME

• Vasculitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Urticaria (hives)
• Diabetes
• Psoriasis

Physicians are becoming increasingly aware of the

importance of the GI tract in the development of
autoimmune diseases. In fact, researchers now estimate
that more than two-thirds of all immune activity occurs in
the gut.2 Allergies can develop when the body produces
antibodies to the undigested proteins derived from
previously harmless foods. These antibodies can get into
any tissue and trigger an inflammatory reaction when
that food is eaten. Depending on where this inflammation
occurs in the body—in the joints, brain, lungs, blood
vessels or gut—a variety of chronic illnesses can develop Toxins from a leaky gut flow directly to the liver, increasing liver toxicity.
as a result.3

• Fever
Other disorders that are associated with leaky gut include
• Abdominal discomfort
eczema, psoriasis, pancreatic insufficiency, candidiasis,
• Diarrhea
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), multiple
• Skin rashes
chemical sensitivities and even heart disease. Leaky gut can • Memory deficit
aggravate existing conditions as well, for it can give rise to • Shortness of breath
such symptoms as:4
Leaky gut syndrome can also cause malabsorption and
• Fatigue
thus deficiencies of many important nutrients—vitamins,
• Joint pain
minerals and amino acids—due to inflammation and the
• Muscle pain
presence of potent toxins. This malabsorption can also
cause gas, bloating and cramps, and can eventually lead to
such complaints as fatigue, headaches, memory loss, poor
concentration and irritability. The set of symptoms known
Digestive disorders, including indigestion, collectively as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—bloating
nausea and vomiting, currently drive almost
and gas after eating and alternating constipation and
38 million Americans into their doctor’s
offices each year. diarrhea—has also been linked to leaky gut syndrome, as
has the more serious inflammatory bowel disease.
Leaky gut has been associated with such cognitive

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Digestive System

dysfunctions as autism in children. It has been found that more. So, once leaky gut develops, it tends to become
some autistic children seem to react to the MMR (measles, progressively worse if measures aren’t taken to correct it.
mumps, rubella) vaccine with inflammation in the gut
lining.5 It is this inflammation that causes the gut to leak, How Is It Diagnosed?
allowing proteins such as gluten (from most grains) and
casein (from milk) to enter the bloodstream, causing an The intestinal permeability assessment, which measures
allergic reaction to foods containing those proteins. the absorption of mannitol and lactulose (two non-
metabolized sugars), is described in the Appendix.
Once toxins enter the bloodstream through the leaky
gut, their first stop is the liver. When the liver is called What Is the Standard
upon to work overtime due to toxic overload, toxins Medical Treatment?
either re-circulate or are deposited in the liver or other
places in the body. When they re-circulate to the intestines, Since leaky gut syndrome is not a focus of conventional
they further irritate the lining, increasing its permeability. medicine, there really is no standard medical treatment.
The recirculation of toxins can occur through the body’s The conventional medical doctor will focus upon treating
normal mechanism of entero-hepatic recirculation in conditions that arise from leaky gut syndrome—and
which toxins go from liver to bile to intestines to the that treatment will likely be through use of drugs and/or
bloodstream and then back to the liver to start over. surgery. Those nutritionally oriented physicians familiar
The food allergies and sensitivities that result from leaky with leaky gut will take a different approach, described, at
gut create inflammation that causes the gut to leak even least in part, at the end of this section.

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 INTESTINAL
Dr. Smith’s Comments

Increased intestinal permeability, whether it is bacteria is of paramount importance in controlling

LEAKY GUT SYNDROME

intermittent or chronic, may be a major contributing intestinal permeability. There is an excellent review
factor to most diseases. It has been well established that article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
there are at least four factors that can lead to increased Oct 2003, pages 675-683. This is a hallmark description
permeability: of how mucus is made by the intestinal lining, how it
1) food allergies and sensitivities is the gel layer of the mucus that allows for bacterial
2) malnutrition adhesion, how there is crosstalk between the bacteria
3) dysbiosis (abnormal immune response to flora of and intestinal lining, and how these vibratory signals
low virulence or even normal flora) profoundly affect what type of immune response is
4) hepatic stress elicited by the intestinal immune system. Suffice it to say
that a balance of soluble and insoluble fiber, the right
(Please go to www.mdheal.org by Leo Galland, MD,
ratio of essential fatty acids, beneficial bacteria, digestive
for further details.)
enzymes and supplements for building and maintaining
From birth throughout life, maintaining a well-nourished the gut lining would be a very wise dietary choice for
intestinal lining and overlying mucus with beneficial everyone to make on a regular basis.

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Digestive System

Brenda’s Bottom Line

Leaky gut syndrome is the crux of all the conditions in • Food sensitivity (See the Gluten Sensitivity and
this book. When the gut is imbalanced and inflamed, Allergies section.)
the integrity of the intestinal lining breaks down. This • Lactose intolerance (See the Lactose Intolerance
allows toxins, pathogens and undigested food particles section.)
to enter into the bloodstream which triggers an
immune response involving yet more inflammation and Recommended Testing
a dysregulation of the immune system. All these factors
contribute to the development of many different • Comprehensive stool analysis (CSA) (See the
chronic diseases.
Appendix.)
• Food sensitivity test (See the Appendix.)
“Leaky gut syndrome is a major part • Intestinal permeability test (See the Appendix.)
of the gut connection to so many
health conditions that affect the Diet
rest of the body.”
• If Candida is an underlying condition, follow the
Candida Diet. (See the Appendix.)
Leaky gut syndrome is a major part of the gut • For maintenance, follow the Fiber 35 Eating Plan. (See
connection to so many health conditions that affect the the Appendix.)
rest of the body. I cannot stress enough the importance
of rebuilding the gut lining. The gut lining needs to be Lifestyle
intact so that the beneficial bacteria can adhere to it
properly, creating the proper defense against invading • Avoid or minimize the use of NSAIDs (aspirin,
pathogens and toxins, and being able to communicate ibuprofen, etc.) and antibiotics.
with the immune system, which is connected to the • Avoid use of antacids.
gut lining. If this gut protection system is not in place, • Reduce toxic exposure to chemicals. Clean up your
chronic and recurrent health conditions will develop. environment, and eat organic food as much as
possible.
Reducing toxic exposure is of prime importance in
preventing and reversing leaky gut syndrome. Both
Complementary Mind/Body Therapies
exotoxins (which come from the outside environment)
and endotoxins (which are produced inside the body by
• Stress can be a major component of this disease,
bacteria and poor digestive conditions) can contribute
so find ways to reduce it with therapies such
to leaky gut. Eliminating these toxins, maintaining
as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, massage,
regular elimination and healing the intestinal lining are
biofeedback, or music therapy.
key steps in healing a leaky gut.
• Acupuncture may be helpful as it targets the
Rule Out: meridians associated with the digestive system, and it
is also a stress reducer.
• Candida overgrowth (See the Candidiasis section.) • Colon hydrotherapy may be beneficial to improve
• Parasitic infection (See the Parasitic Disease section.) digestion and intestinal balance.

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 INTESTINAL
Recommended
Dosage Benefit Comments
Nutraceuticals
Daily maintenance recommendations should also
Critical Phase be taken during this phase unless otherwise indicated.

Helps repair the

L-Glutamine Powder with 10,000 mg daily intestinal lining, reducing
Best taken in powder form.

LEAKY GUT SYNDROME

Gamma Oryzanol divided doses permeability and reducing
severe reactions to foods.

Helpful

Encourages elimination Herbal formula should support

Total Body Cleanse See Appendix
and detoxification. the seven channels of elimination.

Bentonite clay /
Use as Helps absorb toxins Short term, to be taken
Glucomannan / Charcoal directed from GI tract. with plenty of water.
Formula

You can purchase a high potency

Use as Protects tissue
Antioxidant Supplement directed from damage.
antioxidant formulation from
most health food stores.

Provides needed nutrients that Powder or liquid formulation

High Potency Use as
can be deficient with those with would be helpful as it is easier
Multi-vitamin/mineral directed
a leaky gut. assimilated and absorbed.

Daily Maintenance
5,000 mg daily Helps repair the
L-Glutamine Powder with in divided doses intestinal lining, reducing
Best taken in powder form.
Gamma Oryzanol after critical permeability and reducing
phase severe reactions to foods.

If low stomach acid is found

Take with Helps digest and absorb
Digestive Enzymes meals nutrients from food.
find a formula that contains
hydrochloric acid.

50 to 200 billion Numerous benefits to Look for high amount

Probiotics culture count intestinal health, helps reduce of bifidobacteria, the main
daily permeability and inflammation. beneficial bacteria in colon.

At least 2 grams Helps restore moisture

Look for a concentrated,
Omega-3 Fatty Acids daily of EPA/DHA to the intestinal tract.
enteric coated fish oil.
combination Provides lubrication.

4-5 grams Helps produce healthy bacteria Use in conjunction with high
Fiber twice daily levels and good elimination. fiber diet to reach 35 g daily.

Helps heal leaky gut, Research is showing

At least 1,000 iu
Vitamin D3 daily
decrease inflammation, many health complications as
increase overall health. a result of low vitamin D levels.

See further explanation of supplements in the Appendix

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