How To Fix A Leaky Gut?

There are a few ways to fix a leaky gut. This article discusses what leaky gut syndrome is, the causes, symptoms, treatments, tests and most importantly when you should visit the doctor for it.

What is leaky gut syndrome?

Leaky gut syndrome is currently a hypothetical possibility that has been drawn from limited data, in which the permeability of the intestinal walls may be compromised not only due to gastrointestinal diseases but also due to other factors.¹ Increased permeability of the intestinal walls is an issue because it can leak pathogenic toxins into your bloodstream, thereby triggering the inflammatory response mechanism, which would impair the gut’s ability as well as cause further health complications.¹ The leakiness can also result in the loss of important substances such as water, nutrients, vitamins and minerals; all of which are beneficial for the gut.

Causes of a leaky gut

Leaky gut syndrome can be caused due to a variety of factors such as:

Physical elements that strain the gut:

These could be referred to as activities that strain and affect the ability of the intestines to effectively digest and protect the body against pathogens. A stressor may include overexercising, though exercise is generally good for your health, the intensity to which you do it can impact your body. Overexercising in this case can cause many issues, such as vasoconstriction of the blood vessels, where blood flow to the intestinal organs is reduced as the muscles being exercised need more oxygen, thus more blood.⁴ This change in the body can cause intestinal damage, as the intestinal walls undergo an increase in tissue permeability and stress-altered gastrointestinal motility. Hence, the intestinal walls become leaky and can thus leak pathogens into the bloodstream.³ 

Furthermore, heat can also cause intestinal damage in the mucous membranes; conditions such as hyperthermia can induce damage by impairing the cellular membrane and increasing the permeability of the intestines.⁵ The damaged membranes stimulate an inflammatory immune response in which the body’s defence mechanism reacts by sending white blood cells into the intestines, hence promoting inflammation.⁵ 

Other inflammatory diseases:

Other inflammatory conditions, such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), can lead to a leaky gut, which causes extreme inflammation of the digestive system, leading to an onset of a leaky gut.⁹ These conditions are caused due to a dysfunction of the mucosal membrane’s ability to filter cells, thus allowing an undue amount of immune cells in the mucosal tissue. This issue can be contracted due to a genetic predisposition¹⁰ or a mutation in the gene coding for the membrane. Moreover, it is hypothesized that IBD can also be contracted because of the breakdown of the epithelial layer of the intestinal wall. This then triggers an inflammatory immune response, which further increases the permeability of the membrane due to the alterations caused by the inflammation, therefore leading to a leaky gut.⁹

Infections caused due to pathogens:

The presence of pathogens (foreign and harmful microorganisms, e.g. bacteria, viruses and fungi) immediately triggers the body’s immune mechanism which includes the inflammatory response. Pathogens can cause alterations in the tight protein junctions by attaching themselves to them and changing them. This allows toxins to get into the intestinal walls and disrupt the interactions between the intercellular proteins, hence increasing permeability and causing them to get into the bloodstream, as well as causing cell death.⁸ A cause for pathogens to be able to do this is due to the imbalance in bacteria, as the gut contains a variety of microbiota, both good and bad (pathogenic). If there is a greater number of bad bacteria than good bacteria, then this will increase the permeability of the membranes.⁸ 

A decreased blood flow to the intestines:

This complication can occur as a result of overexercising, or when there is an obstruction to the blood vessels leading to the intestinal organs. The lack of blood supply can lead to an ischemic injury (where certain tissues die), and it can result in the damage of tissue which is involved in metabolic activity.⁶ The consequences of decreased blood flow to the intestines lead to an imbalance in ion distribution as the cellular membranes of the intestines are left altered. This alteration causes a disorganization of the cytoskeletal cells and increases their volume, thus increasing permeability, allowing toxins to leak into the bloodstream.⁷ Additionally, an ischemic injury can further lead to ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is prevalent in endorsing inflammation due to an inflammatory response.⁷

Chemotherapy and other radiation therapies and overuse of medications:

These treatment methods and overuse of medications (e.g., aspirin and ibuprofen) can disrupt the cellular membranes of the intestinal walls by eroding the epithelial lining.¹¹ This can lead to the aforementioned alterations of the cells and proteins in the gut. This makes the wall more permeable and susceptible to enteric pathogens, which can trigger inflammatory immune responses that further the leakiness of the gut.¹⁰

Symptoms of leaky gut

Symptoms can tend to be misleading as they show no direct correlation or causation to the permeability of the intestinal walls; however, the damage the intestinal lining pertained does induce symptoms which include ¹¹

• diarrhoea
• bloating and gas due to bacterial imbalance in the gut
• fatigue (lack of energy) due to malabsorption of food (damage to epithelial lining prevents effective digestion / shunts metabolic activity)
• burning sensations in the gut (can be due to ulcers)
• indigestion (which is likely to be painful as the mucosal lining has been damaged)
• gastrointestinal mucositis (an infection in the mucosal membrane of the gastrointestinal tract)

Testing for leaky gut

At present, there is no test available that measures the permeability of the intestinal lining, that’s why the leaky gut is still not a recognized health issue/diagnosis. However, many tests are being taken in clinical research to find evidence to officiate leaky gut syndrome. 

These tests include¹¹ :

Tissue biopsies

This test is classed as more of an invasive testing technique as a sample of your intestinal tissue is tested in a Using chamber. This chamber allows the tissue to be put through an electrical current, which measures the ion transport across the intestinal membrane which is the same as the water transport.

Blood tests

This test examines the contents of the blood for an indication of bacterial infiltration. This can be determined by identifying certain antibodies and endotoxins, which are biomarkers that can ascertain a leaky gut.

Confocal endomicroscopy

This test requires an endoscopy examination with the injection of a contrast fluid into the vein. This allows for the researchers to view the intestinal barrier in high magnification and resolution and to see whether the fluid shows up in the gut. If it is seen, then a gap in the lining can be determined.

Urine tests

This test required the patient to drink a solution containing varied sizes of sugar molecules. Some of these sugars are too big to pass through the walls of the intestinal membranes. The contents of the urine are then analyzed, and depending on the sizes of sugar molecules passed through, leaky gut can be determined for the patient.

How to heal a leaky gut?

Foods that can help fix leaky gut

Some food as known and researched to reverse the permeability of the intestinal cellular membranes and to promote a healthy microbiotic environment. 

These foods include:

• Fermented foods, as the fermentation incites a healing impact on the permeability of the membrane and improves the integrity of the intestinal epithelium.¹²
• Probiotics are also known to promote the gut barriers effectiveness as they inhibit the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut.¹¹
• Prebiotics mainly consist of plant fibres and are immanent supplements that can aid the good flora and fauna in the gut, allowing them to better defend the gut barrier.¹¹ 
• A nutritious diet can help prevent the onset of a leaky gut and can improve the integrity of the intestinal barrier too. Especially consuming macro- and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) such as specific amino acids and vitamin D, which are known to repair the lining of the gut.¹¹
• A low FODMAP (fermentable oligo-, di- and monosaccharides and polyols) diet can also be followed for a short duration of time as it allows recuperation and healing of the gut as it diminishes the likelihood of immune responses by getting rid of common food triggers.

Foods to avoid

Whilst some foods can fortify the gut barrier, other foods can deplete the gut of good bacteria and damage the intestinal lining, thus endorsing the onset of a leaky gut. These foods must not be consumed in excess.¹¹

Specifically, foods high in fats and sugars create a toxic environment in the gut where pathogenic bacteria can grow and trigger the inflammatory response. The intake of these foods thus makes the lining more permeable allowing for it to be a leaky gut.¹¹ 

Lifestyle changes

Implementing lifestyle changes is an essential part of reducing health issues and their impact on the body, especially in case of a leaky gut which has no known cure.

Lifestyle changes include¹¹:

• Having a nutritious diet to promote good bacteria in the gut.
• Avoiding medication such as ibuprofen and aspirin straight away to prevent damage to the intestinal lining.
• Eating fermented foods to help repair the intestinal lining.
• Taking probiotics and prebiotics to maintain good bacteria and to help them defend the gut barrier.

Can a leaky gut repair itself?

A leaky cannot repair itself and though some damage done to the intestinal barrier can be reversed to a certain extent, it cannot be done so completely.¹⁰ 

The only way to treat a leaky gut is by treating the underlying health conditions which are causing the gut to be damaged.¹¹ Solely focusing on treatments that particularly aim to fortify the gut barrier will not stop or prevent the reoccurrence of the damage to the membrane.¹¹ 

Indicators to show that leaky gut is repaired

Symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhoea, fatigue, burning sensations in the gut, painful indigestion and infection in the gut barrier will gradually become less of an occurrence. You will feel more energetic and healthier due to an increase in metabolic activity pertaining a healthy digestive system.⁹

Prevention

There are a few ways to prevent a leaky gut such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a nutritious diet,¹¹  consuming prebiotics and probiotics, and avoiding foods high in fats and sugars.¹⁰ Other ways to prevent a leaky gut is by treating underlying conditions such as IBD; treating this will reduce the probability of getting a leaky gut. Research suggests that plant-based diets can fortify gut bacteria.¹³

When to consult a doctor

Doctors currently can not diagnose leaky guts as it is not considered a health condition as of yet. However, there is new and upcoming evidence of its existence and its impacts on both humans and animals.²

Though this condition does not sound very critical, if left for too long it can become fatal. So, seeing a doctor in the early stages is very important, especially if a person has recurring issues such as abnormal gas and bloating tendencies, chronic fatigue, diarrhoea and painful indigestion. If a person has a frequent burning sensation in their digestive tract, this may be an indicator of an ulcer and thus a leaky gut; hence, a doctor must be seen immediately. Furthermore, people with certain inflammatory autoimmune disorders such as lupus and IBD are correlated to having leaky guts, so if symptoms are to persist, a doctor should be consulted.¹⁴ 

Summary

In summary, a leaky gut, though yet not recognized by medical professionals, is definitively an issue that exists in this day and age.  It is caused mainly due to factors such as consumption of foods high in fats and sugars, mutations in genes and presence of underlying health conditions previously which trigger an inflammatory immune response. This leads to a damaged gut barrier with increased permeability in it, allowing pathogens to pass into the bloodstream as well as the malabsorption of macro- and micronutrients. Symptoms such as tiredness, gas and bloating can cause issues in day-to-day life, and if conditions are to persist one must consult a medical professional as it can become critical.