The Ultimate Guide To Increased Intestinal Permeability and Leaky Gut

Did you know our digestive system does so much more than just absorb nutrients from our food? It protects us from toxins, helps with hormone and neurotransmitter metabolism, and supports our immune system to name a few other important functions. 

A key part of a healthy, well-functioning digestive system is the gut lining. Studies show that a stable intestinal barrier is critical to keep potentially harmful substances from entering our internal environment.

So what happens when our gut lining doesn’t work as it should? Leaky gut, also known as intestinal permeability, can ensue. 

Let’s take a deeper look at the gut lining and learn how leaky gut occurs.

Gut Lining Anatomy

The gut lining, or the intestinal mucosa, is complex and crucial to the digestive system. There are several layers to the gut lining, each performing specific functions that contribute to overall digestive health and immunity. 

There are four layers of the gut lining:

1. Mucosa: This is the innermost layer of the gut lining and is responsible for functions like absorption, secretion, and protection of the digestive tract. It consists of layers including the lamina propria, epithelium, and muscularis mucosae.
2. Submucosa: This layer contains nerves, lymphatics, and blood vessels. It supports the mucosa layer and allows for flexibility and movement.
3. Muscularis Externa: This layer consists of smooth muscle layers and is responsible for movements like peristalsis through the digestive tract.
4. Serosa: This thin membrane, made of a double layer of epithelium tissue, is the outermost layer of the gastrointestinal tract.

Normal Functions of The Gut

The gut lining has several key roles. It absorbs nutrients, acts as a barrier, and supports the immune system. It also produces hormones and supports the microbiome.

• Nutrient Absorption: The specialized epithelial cells of the gut lining absorb nutrients from food. This is how our body absorbs essential nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
• Barrier Function: The gut lining is selectively permeable. It has tight junctions between epithelial cells that control what can pass through. This allows nutrients to pass through, but not harmful substances. 
• Immune Function: The gut lining holds much of the immune system. It helps recognize and respond to potential threats.
• Hormone Production: Specialized cells in the gut lining produce hormones that regulate functions like digestion and appetite.
• Microbiome Support: The gut lining hosts beneficial bacteria that aid digestion.

Understanding the gut lining’s anatomy and functions is key to understanding its vital role in overall health and digestive well-being. But what happens when the gut lining doesn’t function like it should? Leaky gut can occur.

What Is Leaky Gut?

Leaky gut occurs when the gut lining becomes damaged. The intestinal wall becomes more permeable, allowing undigested food, waste, and bacteria to leak into the bloodstream. This creates inflammation, immune system activation, and systemic effects.

What Happens in the Body With Leaky Gut?

Many changes happen in the body when leaky gut starts to develop. 

First, a breakdown in the junctions between intestinal cells occurs, causing gaps to form in the lining. This increases intestinal permeability. Larger molecules that normally can’t pass through the lining enter the bloodstream – like bacterial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids, byproducts of bacterial metabolism, and endotoxins. Normally, these metabolites are confined to the intestinal tract and can be beneficial. But when they enter the bloodstream, they can trigger inflammatory responses. 

Even more concerning is the potential for endotoxins to be released into the bloodstream. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are components of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. When these bacteria die, they release endotoxins. Because the vast majority of microbes in the digestive tract are gram-negative bacteria, the presence of LPS is concerning in the case of leaky gut. LPS itself negatively affects gut function through intestinal inflammation, disrupting the tight junctions that keep the gut lining selectively permeable, and inducing oxidative stress in epithelial cells.

For someone with leaky gut, this means the endotoxins pass through the intestinal barrier and trigger a strong immune response. Systemic inflammation follows and there’s potential for further health issues like food sensitives, liver damage, increased risk of autoimmune disorder, neurological effects, and chronic inflammation from long-standing immune system activation.  Remember that 80% of our immune system is located in the gut!

Digestive issues often follow. Symptoms like gas, cramps, bloating, changes to bowel movements, and food sensitivities are common. Systemic symptoms can also occur including but not limited to headaches, joint pain, fatigue, and even skin problems.

But that’s not all. Other pathologic conditions may develop as a result of leaky gut, including fatty  liver, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, obesity, neurodegeneration, and diabetes.

What Causes Leaky Gut?

Leaky gut is mainly caused by one or more of the following: bacterial infection, dysbiosis (an imbalance in microflora), chronic allergen exposure, and increased gut oxidative stress (this can be from toxins).

Other causes for leaky gut include:

• Chronic stress
• Certain medications
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• A highly processed diet

When these factors occur, the tight junctions between epithelial cells in the gut lining loosen, creating a leaky gut. 

What Increases Your Risk for Leaky Gut?

Your risk for leaky gut increases with certain conditions like:

• Obesity
• Autoimmune disease
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease  (NAFLD)
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Cardiovascular disease like atherosclerosis
• Metabolic diseases like diabetes
• Chronic stress

Leaky Gut Treatment

Treatment for leaky gut includes treating the gut infection, fostering healthy gut bacteria, and healing the gut lining.

Treating Gut Infections 

Treating gut infections is a major pillar of leaky gut treatment. This can be done with prescription medications and/or herbal antimicrobials depending on the severity of the infection. 

Specific nutritional supplements and probiotics are also key in gut healing. 

Fostering Healthy Gut Bacteria

Supporting the growth of healthy gut bacteria is achieved by eating a healthy diet with enough dietary fiber, managing stress, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and taking probiotics. 

Dietary changes that foster healthy gut bacteria when treating leaky gut include avoiding excessive alcohol, minimizing food additives like sugar, and avoiding high amounts of saturated fats. Replacing these with nutrient-dense whole foods is key in a leaky gut diet.

Probiotics also play a significant role in fostering healthy gut bacteria. Beneficial bacteria in probiotics help restore balance in the gut microbiome, while also combating harmful pathogens and bacteria. Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus are two strains shown to improve the ability of the gut lining to maintain selective permeability. This complete probiotic from our shop contains both important strains – making it a great choice for supporting gut health during leaky gut treatment.

Healing the Gut Lining

Healing the gut lining often includes supportive leaky gut supplements. Common supplements for leaky gut include l-glutamine, aloe, DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice), SBIs (serum bovine immunoglobulins), and butyrate. Also supportive herbs like ginger and curcumin can be helpful as well. 

• L-glutamine, an amino acid, is a primary source of fuel for intestinal cells. It helps the intestinal cells maintain their structure and function. 
• Aloe has both soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great choice for healing the gut lining during leaky gut treatment. 
• DGL, or deglycyrrhizinated licorice, protects the gut lining by promoting mucus production. This comprehensive gut integrity supplement includes DGL, aloe vera, and l-glutamine for gut health – all key ingredients for leaky gut treatment.
• SBIs, or serum bovine immunoglobins, help support gut barrier integrity. It also supports immune function.
• Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, reduces inflammation and supports colon cells.

You may also need to work with a healthcare professional to address any underlying conditions that may play a role in leaky gut. That’s where functional medicine comes in.

Functional Medicine Treatment for Leaky Gut

Functional medicine provides a powerful framework for healing leaky gut and restoring overall health. Using a functional medicine framework, leaky gut can be healed through diet, lifestyle, addressing underlying imbalances, and using leaky gut supplements or medications as needed.

At Arizona Wellness Medicine, we believe in the whole person approach – addressing all aspects of your health and life can contribute to diseases like leaky gut. That way we can develop a personalized treatment plan that fits your specific needs and health goals. Each of our qualified functional medicine providers is dedicated to you and your health. We know that each person and lifestyle is unique, which is how we create lasting change for our patients. Contact us here to book your first appointment.

Resources:

1. Leaky Gut and the Ingredients That Help Treat It: A Review
2. Intestinal Architecture and Development
3. Partners in Leaky Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Dysbiosis and Autoimmunity
4. Gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, and systemic inflammation: a narrative review
5. Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects
6. Essential Oils of Oregano: Biological Activity Beyond Their Antimicrobial Properties
7. Serum Bovine Immunoglobulins Improve Inflammation and Gut Barrier Function in Persons with HIV and Enteropathy on Suppressive ART
8. A Systematic Review of the Influence of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation on Leaky Gut Syndrome in Athletes: Diagnostic Biomarkers and Future Directions