Leaky gut, also known as intestinal hyperpermeability, has been a growing interest in the healthcare field recently due to its association with autoimmune diseases such as Celiac Disease, Crohn’s, Type 1 Diabetes, and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis to name a few.
When healthy, our intestinal gut lining stays relatively intact with the help of seals known as tight junctions that allow very specific things to pass through from our gastrointestinal tract to the bloodstream. However certain insults such as pesticides, toxic metals, gluten, NSAIDs, chronic gut pathogens, and catabolic physiology from high stress can compromise this barrier, causing openings or “leaks.”
Over time, these openings in our gut wall become more severe, enabling more substances like toxins, bacteria, fungi, and large proteins from our food to pass through our protective gut barrier and enter areas they should not. This may start off presenting as local Inflammation and gastrointestinal upset but sometimes manifests as symptoms unrelated to the gastrointestinal system. Too often, leaky gut leads to a cascade of systemic health problems including food sensitivities, brain fog, fatigue, and autoimmune disease.
Some common ways to help repair the gut lining is with high-quality bone broth, supplements like L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, N-acetyl glucosamine, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice. However, it’s imperative to detect and treat the underlying cause of the issue. Is it a chronic gut pathogen that has gone undetected for years, a toxin exposure like metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, or mold, or is it from chronic high stress, which can lead to the breakdown of the gut lining?
We can provide symptomatic relief, but for lasting results, it is essential to remove the insults that caused the breakdown in the first place. Since there are at least a dozen potential triggers that can cause leaky gut, it is recommended to work with a qualified health care professional that is well versed in running the most essential tests to figure out the culprit, as well as the most efficient treatment methods. The sequence of treatment programs is also crucial to the success of the program. For example, if the HPA axis is dysregulated, gut treatments like anti-pathogen regimens won’t work very well. We get the best results when we treat the problem in a carefully planned, systematic fashion based on the individual and the lab results.
If you would like to learn more about leaky gut and how it may play a role in your gastrointestinal symptoms and other health complaints, reach out to book a consultation today! With 13 years of experience as a primary care provider, Dr. Quin uses a comprehensive, lab-based, and patient-centered approach to uncovering the root cause of your health problems.
