Leaky Gut

Leaky Gut

Intestinal hyperpermeability: The intestinal lining becomes more permeable than normal either via epithelial cell damage and or widening of the intercellular junctions
1. The intestinal epithelial lining functions
  1. Absorb nutrients
  2. Prevent the uptake of toxic compounds, pathogens and undigested food particles from the lumen to the circulation
    1. Results in:
      1. Increased absorption of large molecules (eg antigens, undigestd food particles, toxins) into the intestinal lmphatics initiating increased immune activation and absorption into the blood which increases toxic burden.
        Local and systemic diseases
      2. Decrease in absorption of small molecules
  3. Detoxify xenobiotics
The mucosal barrier integrity is maintained by:
1. rapid turnover of epithelial cells
2. Maintenance of tight junctions
3. Peristalsis - removal of microbes
4. Hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes which destroy infective microbes
5. Secretion of fluids such as mucus from epithelial crypt to wash away microbes by preventing adherance
6. Immunological mechanisms eg: IgA which bind foreign antigens
Contributing factors
1. Excessive alcohol
2. nicotine
3. Poor diet
4. Drugs
5. Diseases causing chronic inflammation
6. Surgery
7. Abdominal radiation
8. Poor digestion
9. Intestinal dysbiosis
10. Deficiency in slgA
11. Stress
Symptoms
1. Fatigue
2. irritability
3. Bloating, flatulence, abdominal discomfort
4. Food reactions

Resource summary

	Created by carlymerlo over 11 years ago