Understanding Leaky Gut Syndrome

Understanding Leaky Gut Syndrome ( LGS)

  Nena Wirth, MASc, Nutrition

 Introduction:

Allergenic foods become foreign to our body once ingested, therefore it is not possible to absorb nutrients from these foods to which we are allergic. Such foods contribute to overload of toxins for our bodies to eliminate, to irritation of our intestine causing (LGS) and decreased absorption. Leaky gut syndrome was almost non-existence many years ago. Now it seems they are cropping up more and more and at an earlier and earlier age.

I believe that the role of intestinal permeability or LGS goes unrecognized and that many people like myself who are suffering from this condition may not even know they have LGS. A LGS will not allow you to absorb and utilized your foods and d as a result, despite eating the healthiest diet, taking handful of vitamins/minerals, you cannot get well, some of you may even get worse because of severe nutritional deficiencies caused by LGS a digestive problem. I believe that this may be the cause of many misdiagnosed and mistreated health problems and perhaps the cause of many deaths with unknown causes.

Leaky Gut Syndromes (LGS)

The gut wall does not normally permit or allow large protein molecules to pass through the intricate wall of the small intestine.

Normally, only when a food protein is broken down into single amino acids and tiny protein molecules can enter the bloodstream. However when the gut wall is damaged, and becomes more permeable than it is suppose to be, partially digested food proteins and bacterial products can pass through and set off allergic reactions and immune responses.

The immune system will try to remove these foreign substances by producing antibodies against them, this is what the immune system normally does, however, if it becomes compromised and overwhelmed with food allergies, the antibodies created in response to the foreign substances will attack its own tissue causing autoimmune reactions. This explains the association of leaky gut and autoimmune diseases.

For common symptoms of LGS are:

It is now well established that LGS is caused by inflammation of the intestines brought about by exposure to substances, which damage the integrity of the intestinal mucosa such as: 

a. Alcohol  / ethanol

b. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

c. Antibiotics

d. Bacterial/viral and protozoan          

e. Intestinal parasites

f. Food allergies/sensitivities

g. Hidden food allergies

Alcohol

Healthy individuals can metabolize small amounts of alcohol. Alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream from the stomach and the small intestine and can destroy the cells in the stomach and intestinal wall. 1,2,  Although consuming alcohol with food help to lessen the damage, people with suspected LGS maybe well advised to stay away from alcohol completely.

NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,3-5 Aspirin and ibuprofen are use to reduce inflammatory process and pain. Although these drugs can reduce pain and inflammation, they can cause more inflammation by impairing the intestine’s permeability and may do more harm than good in the long run.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics lead to the overgrowth of abnormal flora in the gastrointestinal tract (bacteria, parasites, candida, fungi) Prescription broad-spectrum antibiotics, especially when taken for extended periods of time, wipe out all the gut friendly bacteria that provide protection against fungi and amoebic (parasitic) infections.

Intestinal parasites

Intestinal parasites are very common especially when there is a lack of hydrochloric acid and bile to sterilize them from the intestine.  Parasites will make any LGS worse by further damaging the intestinal wall.

Lack of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and leaky gut

The relationship between food allergy and the leaky gut is a vicious cycle. It is believed that permeability is greatly increased following exposure to allergenic foods. Suggesting that an increase in intestinal permeability (leaky gut) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of food allergy and is also a result of food allergy.

First of all, if there is lack of HCl in the stomach, protein will not be completely digested.  When the intestinal lining is exposed to undigested protein molecules, these foreign proteins will cause irritation. With chronic irritation of the gut lining, eventually the cells lining of the intestine begin to separate one from another creating openings, making the intestinal lining more permeable or leaky gut. When the cells spread too far apart, they allow larger molecules into the blood stream, setting off cascades of multi-allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases.

Food sensitivities and leaky gut

The process of absorption is highly dependent on the condition of this intestinal lining in the development of leaky gut syndrome. The small intestine is lined with millions of tiny, finger-like projections called villi (folds that project out into the lumen), which are covered with its own microvilli, a “ brush boarder".

The villi function to slow the passage of food and increase the surface area for the absorption of nutrients. Normally, microvilli are perfectly intact, meaning, no spaces between so that it can act as filter to prevent large protein molecules, bacteria, and toxins to enter into the bloodstream while allowing nutrients to pass through efficiently into the bloodstream.

 Microvilli also contain disaccharidase enzymes to break down carbohydrates in particular to lactase enzyme to break down lactose, (a milk sugar) and transporter of proteins to aid in absorption. In gluten intolerance, the intestinal mucosa lacks the ability to digest gliadin, because of lack of enzyme necessary to break it down to simple or single peptides. When the intestinal damage is exposed to undigested gliadin, it will actually cause irritation and inflammation in the gut and cause widening of spaces between the villi that normally protrude from the intestinal surfaces to absorb food. This gap allows large protein molecule to enter into the bloodstream through these openings. More serious is when the gap gets larger, even bacteria, fungi, parasites and their toxins, undigested protein, fat and waste to pass through the damaged or “leaky" gut and allowed to enter the bloodstream. In a healthy intestine, these are not absorbed into the blood stream. Because the villi become damaged they are unable to absorb water and nutrients and can also lead to malnutrition, bleeding, anemia, osteoporosis and many chronic diseases. Because of the damage caused by undigested gliadin in the small intestine, its ability to produce lactase enzyme is diminished. These suggest that individuals who are gluten intolerants are also lactose intolerants. This explains that people who are gluten intolerants may be well advised to avoid all dairy products including whey and casein.

Lactose intolerance

Undigested lactose also plays an important role in digestive disturbances leading to gastrointestinal irritation and inflammation, which result to leaky gut syndrome.

Hidden food allergies Partially digested protein that is absorbed into the bloodstream due to inadequate presence of hydrochloric acid in the stomach may stimulate allergic reactions throughout the body and allergies always attack its own tissues.

This primary, intestinal barrier is supported by the liver, through which all enterically derived substances must pass before entering the circulation for transport to other tissues and organs. When too many toxins coming all at once, it places an   enormous burden on the liver’s detoxification and / or filtering capability. These substances such as alcohol, bacterial or parasite infections, and prescription drugs - can increase the size of these holes giving rise to a condition known as Leaky Gut. This suggests that LGS is now at the root of many autoimmune diseases. When the immune system is overwhelmed with   allergies, it will produce antibodies against it own tissue, leading to “autoimmune" reaction.

Because of lack of hydrochloric acid, there is a greater chance for bacterial overgrowth. Research has shown that these friendly bacteria bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifid bacterium bifidum enhance the capacity of the immune cells in the gastrointestinal tract to defend against foreign pathogens. Clinical research has shown that the oral supplementation of friendly bacteria such as megophilus or acidophilus enhanced immunological protection. Furthermore, these harmful bacteria compete with other pathogenic organisms such as Candida albicans and the diarrhea-causing Clostridium difficile.

The most common method to treat food allergies, however, is the use of drugs to provide temporary relief. Although this conventional therapeutic approach can provide symptomatic relief, it does not, however, address the underlying cause of the problem. This method of treatment focuses at blocking the immune response, or at suppressing the entire immune function, which usually cause numerous side effects. Patients often become dependent on their prescribed medications and almost always their conditions worsened as the immune system is compromised.

The key to resolving leaky gut syndrome rests in the following:

1). Avoiding the factors, which produce the injury, decreasing inflammation,

2).  Correcting the bowel function by herbal colon cleanse since lack of HCl always accompany constipation in order eliminating pathogenic organisms, 3). Improving all digestive weaknesses including taking broadspecrum digestive supplements that contains betaine HCl, pepsin, papain, bile, pancreatin

4). Dietary modification to avoid all allergens such as dairy, gluten products, refined foods / sugars, herbs

5.) Taking a broadspectrum   vitamin/mineral   supplements to heal the gut wall due to serious malabsorption problem.

6). Using herbs and probiotics to promote normal digestion.

For delicious and easy to prepare muffins, cakes, bread, pizza, taco made without wheat, dairy, baking powder, yeast, consult my books:

Gutty Muffins

Root and Rice Connection Recipe book

For information: Call 519 747 9453

Email: nenanutri@porchlight.ca