What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
LEAKY GUT SYNDROME
If the filtering and/or detoxification systems within the liver are overloaded or inefficient, this will cause toxins, dead cells and microorganisms to build up in the blood stream. This will then increase the workload of the immune system, which will become overloaded and irritated. The immune system will then produce excessive inflammatory chemicals, and in some cases, auto antibodies, because it is in a hyperstimulated state. This may lead to symptoms of immune dysfunction such as allergies, inflammatory states, swollen glands, recurrent infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or auto-immune diseases such as MS and ME. Some of the more common autoimmune diseases are systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, vasculitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Immune dysfunction is common in the chemically overloaded environment we live in today, and is exacerbated by nutritional deficiencies inherent in processed and high fat diets. Suppressive drugs are often used to treat symptoms of immune dysfunction.
Simply put, the digestive tract consists of a long tube, which connects the mouth to the anus. After food is swallowed it passes through the esophagus to the stomach, where it is churned up with acid and stomach enzymes into small particles. This then passes into the small intestine, which is around 20 feet long. The most important function of the small intestine is to digest and absorb nutrients from the food particles that arrive from the stomach. In the upper part of the small intestine, secretions from the liver and gallbladder (bile), and the pancreas (enzymes), are inserted through a small tube (duct), situated near the pancreas gland. Another vital function is to act as a barrier to prevent the re absorption into the blood circulation, of toxins, microbes and macromolecules.
When the digestive tract (also known as the intestinal mucosa) is inflamed, you can develop what is called a "leaky gut". This means that large food molecules, endotoxins and xenobiotics can pass straight into the bloodstream and be presented to the liver for detoxification. They should not be in the blood - so the immune system reacts to them, immune complexes are formed and these complexes travel to the liver where they are broken down. This places an enormous burden on the liver, stressing its detoxification capability. As a result these substances may be partially processed and accumulate in the liver and fatty (adipose) tissue. Research in recent years has uncovered the important connection between the health of the human body and the integrity of the gut wall. It is now well established that inflammation of the intestines and a resultant increased permeability of the intestinal mucosal wall has a connection with conditions such as infection, food allergy, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, dermatological conditions, colitis, or auto-immune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis), Reiter's syndrome, eczema and other ‘allergic' disorders.
The natural treatment of the symptoms listed at the home page requires an understanding and amelioration of the leaky gut syndrome phenomenon. The basic lesion in leaky gut syndrome is an intestinal lining that is more permeable than normal. In simple terms, this means that larger-than-optimal spaces are present between the cells of the gut wall, allowing the entrance of bacteria, fungi, parasites, toxins, undigested protein, fat, and waste material into the bloodstream. Substances that are normally not absorbed in the healthy state, pass through a damaged, hyperpermeable, or "leaky" gut.
The leaky gut syndrome is basically caused by inflammation of the gut lining. Inflammation causes the spaces between the cells to enlarge, allowing the absorption of large protein molecules. These are usually broken down into much smaller pieces before being absorbed through the normally small spaces between the gut-lining cells.
The immune system starts making antibodies against the larger molecules because it perceives them as foreign, invading substances. Antibodies are produced against the "invading" proteins and previously well-tolerated foods. The antibodies can get into various tissues and trigger an inflammatory reaction when the corresponding food is consumed. This occurs because body tissues have antigenic sites very similar to those on the foods, bacteria, parasites, candida, or fungi. Auto-antibodies are thus created and inflammation can become chronic. If this inflammation occurs in a joint, autoimmune arthritis develops. If it occurs in the blood vessels, vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) is the resulting autoimmune problem. If it occurs in the muscles and multiple organ systems, the result may very well be FibroMyalgia or ME.
The inflammation that causes leaky gut syndrome also damages the protective coating of antibodies of the IgA family. These are normally present in a healthy gut. As a result, the individual becomes less resistant to viruses, bacteria, parasites, and Candida. These microbes are then able to invade the bloodstream and colonize almost any tissue or organ. The microbes and their toxins -- if present in large enough amounts -- can overwhelm the liver's ability to detoxify. Resulting symptoms may include confusion, memory loss, brain fog, or facial swelling when the individual is exposed to a perfume or cigarette smoke, for example. He or she may have had no adverse reactions to these odors prior to the development of leaky gut phenomenon.
Leaky gut syndrome also creates a long list of mineral deficiencies. The inflammation process damages the various carrier proteins present in the gastrointestinal tract, needed to transport minerals from the intestine to the blood. For example, magnesium deficiency is quite common in conditions such as FibroMyalgia for example, despite a high magnesium intake through diet or supplementation. If the carrier protein for magnesium is damaged, magnesium deficiency develops as a result of malabsorption. Muscle pain and spasms can occur as a result.
Similarly, zinc deficiency due to malabsorption can result in hair loss or baldness as occurs in alopecia areata, another autoimmune disease. Inflammation involves edema and the presence of many noxious chemicals, all of which can block the absorption of vitamins and essential amino acids.
A leaky gut does not absorb nutrients properly. Bloating, gas, alternating diarrhea with constipation, and cramps occur, leading to irritable bowel syndrome. Eventually, systemic complaints such as fatigue, headaches, memory loss, poor concentration, or irritability develop.
