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Leaky Gut Syndrome: 7 Signs You May Have It

The AHA! Team — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 06:19:53 +0000

Kathleen McCoy, BS via Dr. Axe – As more Americans are affected by poor diet choices, chronic stress, toxic overload and bacterial imbalance, it appears that the prevalence of leaky gut is potentially reaching epidemic proportions. The medical profession is just now agreeing this condition even exists, which is especially shocking considering that “intestinal permeability” (another name for leaky gut) has been discussed in the medical literature for over 100 years! Why should leaky gut syndrome concern you? In recent years, studies consider leaky gut a “danger signal for autoimmune disease.” Below is a brief description of common leaky gut syndrome symptoms seen in people struggling with this condition. A four-step process is recommended to help promote healing — including trigger foods to remove from your diet and beneficial supplements to add in. What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome? The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, said, “All disease begins in the gut.” More than two millennia after his death, scientific research has now proved he was on to something all those years ago. For over three decades, study after study has been published (several thousand articles exist to date) discussing our growing understanding of immunity, gut function, and how modern diets and lifestyles negatively contribute to overall health by damaging the digestive system. This particular phenomenon is called leaky gut syndrome. In the medical literature, leaky gut is also referred to as “increased intestinal hyperpermeability.” What happens when you have leaky gut? The intestines are protected by a single layer of specialized epithelial cells that are linked together by tight junction (or TJ) proteins. As one 2020 review explains, leaky gut symptoms are a consequence of intestinal TJ malfunction. These TJ proteins are the gateway between your intestines and your bloodstream. They control what is allowed to pass into the bloodstream from your digestive system. More than 40 different TJ proteins have now been recognized to play a role in gut health. TJ proteins have a very precise job. They have to maintain the delicate balance between allowing vital nutrients to enter your bloodstream, while remaining small enough to prevent xenobiotics (disease-causing substances like toxins and bacteria) from passing out of your digestive system into the rest of your body. Here’s how a report published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology describes the pathology of intestinal permeability: “The intestinal epithelial lining, together with factors secreted from it, forms a barrier that separates the host from the environment. In pathologic conditions, the permeability of the epithelial lining may be compromised allowing the passage of toxins, antigens, and bacteria in the lumen to enter the bloodstream creating a ‘leaky gut.’” Symptoms (Plus Related Conditions) According to one review focusing on medically reviewed research about intestinal permeability (among other sources), the chronic condition of hyperpermeability may be linked to numerous symptoms and health conditions, including some autoimmune diseases. What are the symptoms of leaky gut? Some of the most prominent signs you may have this condition include: Gastric ulcers Joint pain Infectious diarrhea Irritable bowel syndrome Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis) Small intestine bacterial overgrowth Celiac disease Esophageal and colorectal cancer Allergies Respiratory infections Acute inflammation conditions (sepsis, SIRS, multiple organ failure) Chronic inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis) Thyroid disorders Obesity-related metabolic diseases (fatty liver, type II diabetes, heart disease) Autoimmune diseases (such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, Hashimoto’s and more) Parkinson’s disease Chronic fatigue syndrome Propensity toward weight gain or obesity Leaky gut may not directly cause any of these conditions — it’s more that people who have gut issues are more likely to have a number of other health problems. So while the scientific evidence has not yet proved that increased intestinal hyperpermeability is actually responsible for these conditions, it strongly suggests that leaky gut and other dysfunctions tend to occur simultaneously. Common Leaky Gut Problems Here’s more about some of these problems can develop due to gut dysfunction: 1. Food sensitivities Some research suggests that intestinal hyperpermeability can cause the immune system to overproduce various antibodies, which may make some more susceptible to antigens in certain foods (especially gluten and dairy). In studies involving rats and human children, leaky gut and food allergies have been linked. Allergies are believed to be one of the most common symptoms. 2. Inflammatory bowel disease Researchers from Hungary uncovered in 2012 that elevated gut permeability is oftentimes localized to the colon in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. As far back as 1988, scientists suggested that Crohn’s disease may be more of a risk for people with leaky gut. A small study (observing 12 patients) discovered that zinc supplementation may help resolve the TJ dysfunction in these cases, although more medically reviewed research is required on a larger scale to confirm these results. 3. Autoimmune disease The key to understanding how leaky gut can cause autoimmune diseases is through research done on a protein known as “zonulin.” According to a one article published in the journal Physiologic Reviews: “Zonulin is the only physiological modulator of intercellular tight junctions described so far that is involved in trafficking of macromolecules and, therefore, in tolerance/immune response balance. When the finely tuned zonulin pathway is deregulated in genetically susceptible individuals, both intestinal and extraintestinal autoimmune, inflammatory, and neoplastic disorders can occur.” Eating certain food allergens, such as gluten, may trigger this dangerous cascade. University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers uncovered that gluten “activates zonulin signaling irrespective of the genetic expression of autoimmunity, leading to increased intestinal permeability to macromolecules.” The good news is that it seems possible to reverse these autoimmune reactions’ problematic immune responses. 4. Thyroid problems One of the autoimmune diseases that leaky gut syndrome may directly affect is Hashimoto’s disease. Also known as “chronic thyroiditis,” this disorder is displayed with hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), impaired metabolism, fatigue, depression, weight gain and a host of other concerns. 5. Nutrient malabsorption Various nutritional deficiencies can also result from leaky gut, including vitamin B12, magnesium and digestive enzymes. Those common nutrient deficiencies are one reason why many functional medicine practitioners prescribe a whole-food multivitamin in addition to probiotics for people suffering from this condition. 6. Inflammatory skin conditions First described over 70 years ago, the “gut-skin connection theory” describes how increased intestinal hyperpermeability can cause a slew of skin conditions, particularly acne and psoriasis. Creams and drugs with endless lists of (sometimes dangerous) side effects are often prescribed for these skin disorders, yet there has been evidence for several decades that part of the root cause might exist in the gut. 7. Mood issues and autism According to a study published in the journal Neuroendocrinology Letters, intestinal permeability has been shown to contribute to various neurocognitive disorders. For example, the inflammatory response characteristic of intestinal hyperpermeability triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other chemicals that are thought to induce depression. A study published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience described the “vicious circle between immune system impairment and increasing dysbiosis that leads to leaky gut and neurochemical compounds and/or neurotoxic xenobiotics production and absorption.” The authors described findings from a number of studies that point to their theory that autism may be connected to problems in the microbiome, particularly within the first year of life. It is actually now a common hypothesis in modern science. Causes What is the main cause of leaky gut? As explained above, it occurs when certain tiny particles that should never be able to enter your bloodstream start to make their way through due to dysfunction of the mucosal barrier in the gut. There also commonly are abnormalities in the gut stemming from antimicrobial molecules, immunoglobulins and cytokine activities. This presents a major problem, as the vast majority of your immune system is found inside the gut (sometimes called the microbiome). The result is a disruption of acute inflammation and sometimes autoimmune reactions. A normal part of your immune response that serves to fight infections and diseases winds up over-performing, leading to chronic inflammation, which is at the root of most diseases. Some of the underlying causes of leaky gut include: Genetic predisposition — Certain people may be more predisposed to developing this condition because they are sensitive to environmental factors that “trigger” their bodies into initiating autoimmune responses. Poor diet — Especially a diet that includes allergens and inflammatory foods, such as unsprouted grains, added sugar, GMOs, refined oils, synthetic food additives, conventional dairy products and alcohol. Chronic stress Toxin overload — This includes “chronic stressors,” such as high drug and alcohol consumption. We come into contact with more than 80,000 chemicals and toxins every single year, but the worst offenders for causing leaky gut include antibiotics, pesticides, tap water, aspirin and NSAIDs. It’s recommended to buy a high-quality water filter to eliminate chlorine and fluoride and look to natural plant-based herbs to reduce inflammation in your body. Bacterial imbalance — Also called dysbiosis, which means an imbalance between beneficial and harmful species of bacteria in your gut. A large body of evidence now shows that gut microbiota is important in supporting the epithelial barrier and preventing autoimmune reactions. At least 10 percent of all gene transcriptions found in intestinal epithelial cells that are related to immunity, cell proliferation and metabolism are regulated by gut microbiota. Controversies Do most conventional doctors support the idea that leaky gut is real? Not exactly, as it the topic remains controversial. WebMD refers to leaky gut as “something of a medical mystery.” This isn’t surprising, since it’s not a diagnosis that most doctors have been taught in medical school. “From an MD’s standpoint, it’s a very gray area,” says gastroenterologist Donald Kirby, M.D., director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic. In his opinion, “Physicians don’t know enough about the gut, which is our biggest immune system organ.” However, a roundtable review quotes the researchers at seven different European universities in 2014 agreeing upon the following: “Alteration of the gut barrier seems to have multiple consequences facilitating the onset of a variety of diseases depending on other hits and on genetic or epigenetic constellations, respectively. The growing significance of the gut barrier and bacterial translocation raises the questions of how we can improve gut barrier functions and gut microbiota.” While it’s encouraging that science is coming around to leaky gut syndrome being a real problem, we are by no means at a point where there are standard diagnostic tools for testing and treating this problem. This means that doctors are often left with no other choice than to follow what they believe to be the “safe path” and prescribe drugs that only treat symptoms. For example, medications (like proton pump inhibitors or antacids) can be used to manage symptoms like acid reflux medications, but these drugs don’t solve the root problem. Because there is so much unknown about leaky gut syndrome, it’s critical that you understand what leaky gut is and what to look out for in case you or a loved one is affected by it. The good news is that many functional and integrative medicine practitioners have a greater understanding of this condition than they did even a decade ago. Treatment Several leaky gut syndrome tests are available that can help confirm a diagnosis and point you in the right treatment direction. Tests are helpful for identifying specific sensitivities and uncovering which types of toxins or deficiencies are contributing to your symptoms. Available tests include: Zonulin or Lactulose Tests IgG Food Intolerance Test Stools Tests Organic Acid Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies Tests Lactulose Mannitol Test What leaky gut treatments are available? A four-step process can help treat leaky gut. We cover this process in a leaky gut diet and treatment plan. The basic steps to healing leaky gut are as follows: Remove foods and factors that damage the gut. Replace these with healing foods that are part of an anti-inflammatory diet. Repair the gut with specific leaky gut supplements like butyric acid. Rebalance your microbiome with probiotics (beneficial bacteria). This is key because bacteria in your...

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L-Glutamine Benefits Leaky Gut & Metabolism

AHA Publisher — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 07:00:17 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN – Have you heard about the incredible health benefits of L-glutamine? First used in powder form by people in the fitness industry (including bodybuilders) who were looking to preserve muscle tissue, L-glutamine (also simply called glutamine) is an amino acid that is a building block of protein and needed by your body in large amounts. The most common original uses of glutamine powder were to meet the following goals: to lose weight fast, burn fat and help build muscle. While that remains the case, science now shows that glutamine benefits are abundant. It also promotes digestive and brain health, boosts athletic performance — plus it’s helpful in treating intestinal issues and leaky gut. In fact, it is one of our top three most recommended supplements overall for treating leaky gut and/or building a lean body. Let’s find out why. What Is Glutamine? With the chemical formula C5H10N2O3, glutamine is one of 20 naturally occurring amino acids found in protein foods. It’s also the most abundant amino acid in the bloodstream. It makes up 30 percent to 35 percent of the amino acid nitrogen in your blood. It’s known as a conditional essential amino acid. What does “conditional essential amino acid” mean? It means that your body can make some on its own but uses it in large amounts. It also becomes essential when an individual faces disease or specifically muscle wasting. This can happen in the course of certain diseases or even physical trauma. Additionally, it’s a conditionally essential nutrient during certain catabolic states, including after bone marrow transplantation. Amazingly, around 60 percent of your skeletal muscle is made up of glutamine – and supplementing with this amino acid can aid protein synthesis and help naturally balance your pH levels. Food Sources Found in both animal and plant proteins (including in high levels in both casein and whey protein), glutamine is also available in supplement form and widely popular in the fitness community and beyond. Glutamine can be found in animal proteins, such as meats and dairy, along with plant-based protein sources, such as beans, raw spinach, parsley and red cabbage. It’s worth noting, though, that animal proteins tend to provide amino acids that are more digestible than plant proteins. Studies estimate that most people probably consume between three and six grams of glutamine from their daily diets. The foods with the most L-glutamine benefits include: Eggs Tofu Milk Bone broth Grass-fed beef Spirulina Chinese cabbage Cottage cheese Asparagus Broccoli rabe Wild-caught fish (cod and salmon) Venison Turkey Corn Rice To obtain a healthy amount, a general recommendation is to consume at least three servings of these L-glutamine-rich foods daily. L-Glutamine Benefits What are the benefits of taking glutamine? New research now shows that L-glutamine benefits the body in the following ways: 1. Improves Gastrointestinal and Immune Health L-glutamine benefits your overall health by supporting gut function and digestive processes. It can be beneficial if you have a digestive condition, such as: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease ulcerative colitis diverticulosis diverticulitis leaky gut or any of the issues associated with leaky gut (like joint pain, rosacea or any type of autoimmune response) It’s worth noting that the man famous for discovering the Krebs cycle in the body (also known as the “citric acid cycle“) was the first person to recommend taking L-glutamine for gut-related issues. That’s because Sir Hans Adolf Krebs — a German-born British biochemist who received (with Fritz Lipmann) the 1953 Nobel Prize for Physiology — found that it helped improve a healthy gut-related immune response. Additional research supports this finding. For example, a study published in the journal of Clinical Immunology found that L-glutamine normalizes the effects of the TH2 immune response that stimulates inflammatory cytokines. The effects of L-glutamine in these studies show that it reduces intestinal inflammation and can help people recover from food sensitivities. It’s also known to play an important role in maintaining healthy gut microbiota and immunity. It seems helpful for reducing intestinal colonization and bacterial overgrowth of pathogens. This may reduce the risk for widespread issues ranging from constipation to weight gain. A 2018 article published in Nutrients also states that “in vitro and in vivo studies have determined that glutamine is an essential nutrient for lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production, macrophage phagocytic plus secretory activities, and neutrophil bacterial killing.” In fact, glutamine is currently part of clinical nutrition supplementation recommended for immune-suppressed individuals. 2. Can Help Treat Leaky Gut and Ulcers There are millions of people struggling with a condition called leaky gut syndrome. It is essentially the main cause of autoimmune disease today. Leaky gut can contribute to thyroid issues like Hashimoto’s disease, along with arthritis, skin issues like psoriasis and other serious health concerns. Because glutamine is the major fuel source for cells of the small intestine, it has been shown to support intestinal health and help treat leaky gut in clinical studies. A study published in the medical journal Lancet referenced above examined 20 hospital patients and found that supplementing with L-glutamine decreased intestinal permeability. An animal study published in the British Journal of Surgery found that L-glutamine benefits ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. It also shows promise for treating ulcers by providing protection from further damage. Plus, it offers a healthier, natural alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of stomach ulcers. If you’re unsure if you suffer from leaky gut, this leaky gut test can help. If, indeed, you appear to have leaky gut, L-glutamine is the No. 1 amino acid you need to help heal and repair it. 3. Supports Brain Health A precursor to the neurotransmitter glutamate in your brain, glutamine is key to boosting your brain health. Why? A disruption of the glutamine-glutamate cycle can result in all kinds of brain problems, including: Reye’s syndrome epilepsy bipolar disorder schizophrenia anxiety depression alcohol addiction Glutamine can also help stall brain aging. Mitochondrial dysfunction causes abnormal increases in the neurotransmitter glutamate and, again, puts the brain at risk for developing the above problems. A study conducted at the New York University School of Medicine showed that even mild traumatic brain injury caused brain atrophy, and most of this damage was due to the disrupted glutamine-glutamate cycle and an abnormal increase in glutamate levels. 4. May Improve IBS Symptoms and Diarrhea Glutamine helps improve IBS and diarrhea by balancing mucus production. This results in healthier bowel movements. If you have Hashimoto’s or an underactive thyroid, consider making it a part of your hypothyroidism diet. The same goes for anyone who suffers from IBS symptoms like constant diarrhea or ulcerations. 5. Promotes Muscle Growth and Decreases Muscle Wasting Whether your goal is to increase athletic performance, boost metabolism, improve recovery or even build muscle, research shows that L-glutamine can significantly aid your efforts. During an intense workout, your body becomes stressed, and your muscles and tendons require more glutamine than the amount supplied by a normal diet. After an intense workout, the levels of cellular glutamine can drop by 50 percent and plasma levels by 30 percent. This muscle-wasting state is a gateway for the body to use your muscle for energy rather than carbohydrates, but glutamine can help prevent this from happening. Supplementing with L-glutamine allows your muscles to fight and push a bit further. This boosts your strength and helps repair your skeletal muscles. A study found that glutamine supplementation makes it possible to recover quicker from intense weight training sessions because it improves muscle hydration. This aids the muscle recovery process and reduces recovery timefor wounds and burns. It’s why glutamine supplementation is not only common for bodybuilders in the bodybuilding industry, but in nearly every athletic pursuit these days. 6. May Improve Athletic Performance and Recovery from Endurance Exercise One of L-glutamine’s main roles in the body is to support detoxification by cleansing the body from high levels of ammonia. It acts as a buffer and converts excess ammonia into other amino acids, amino sugars and urea. Doing approximately one hour of exercise can cause a 40 percent reduction of glutamine in the body. It can also cause suppressed immune function. This has a negative impact on your resistance training and may lead to overtraining syndrome. L-glutamine benefits long distance athletes as well by boosting the immune system (T-helper cells). Animal studies have indicated that this increase in T-helper cells may reduce the “stresses” associated with overtraining syndrome. However, not every study has found that it necessarily boosts performance. One 2019 review that included data from 55 studies observed that glutamine improved some fatigue markers, such as increased glycogen synthesis and reduced ammonia accumulation, but this intervention did not always increase physical performance. 7. Supports Metabolic and Heart Health Research has indicated that human growth hormone (HGH) levels go up nearly 400 percent after glutamine supplementation. This hormonal response leads to an increase in resting metabolic rate and improves the afterburn effect or EPOC post-exercise. This afterburn effect is essential for burning fat, weight loss and building lean muscle mass. Is glutamine good for weight loss? There’s evidence suggesting that it helps burn fat and build lean muscle mass by suppressing insulin levels and stabilizing blood glucose. This enables the body to use less muscle mass to maintain blood sugar and insulin sensitivity in the cells. In fact, six weeks of supplementation with 30 grams per day of glutamine powder “markedly improved some cardiovascular risk factors, as well as body composition, in patients with type 2 diabetes” in one study. For this reason, L-glutamine benefits diabetics and those with sugar and carb cravings as well. Emerging evidence also indicates that l-glutamine plays a fundamental role in cardiovascular health by serving as a substrate for the synthesis of DNA, ATP, proteins and lipids. Additionally it seems to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as: hypertension hyperlipidemia glucose intolerance obesity diabetes Related: Do Digestive Enzymes Prevent Nutrient Deficiencies & Boost Gut Health? Deficiency L-glutamine is synthesized by the body from glutamic acid or glutamate. If the body is unable to produce enough it needs to get it directly from your diet. It’s estimated that 70 million Americans now suffer from digestive diseases, so it’s apparent that our diets severely lack certain nutrients that support the digestive tract. While L-glutamine is synthesized by the body from glutamic acid or glutamate, sometimes the body is unable to produce enough — plus the majority of people don’t seem to get enough L-glutamine from their food alone if they eat low-protein diets. Some reasons that you may run low in glutamine include: Eating a low-protein diet Undergoing lots of stress Exercising intensely Battling infections and illnesses Undergoing treatments, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy Having an immune disorder Having a chronic gastrointestinal disorder This is why supplementing your diet with it is an excellent way to boost your immune system and improve your ability to fight infection and diseases. Glutamine has even become a common supplement for critically ill patients. According to a study published in the medical journal Critical Care, glutamine dipeptide-supplemented parenteral nutrition “continues to be associated with a significant reduction in hospital mortality and hospital length of stay.” Supplements and Dosage Types of L-Glutamine There are two forms of L-glutamine. You can get regular L-glutamine in what’s called its free form, and it should be taken with food ideally for proper absorption by the body. The other type is called trans-alanyl-glutamine or alanyl-L-glutamine. It’s an amino acid attached to another amino acid. That basically means you can digest it much better. Unlike free-form glutamine powder, you can take it on an empty stomach. Both forms are best taken right after or right before workouts — with your small meals right before or after workouts for it to support your metabolism and weight loss as well as for muscle building, recovery and preservation. Dosage Recommendations Typically, the best dosage is an ingestion between two to five grams taken twice daily and up to 10 grams twice daily for serious power athletes. When should you take glutamine? Replenishing glutamine levels after an intense session could take up to five days, so it is...

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