Leaky gut syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a diagnosis prevalent in various branches of alternative medicine. Its proponents hypothesize that damage to the bowel lining, caused by antibiotics, toxins, poor diet, parasites or infection (e.g. with the yeast "Candida albicans") [ ZP Rona, [http://www.afpafitness.com/articles/LEAKGUT4.HTM Altered Immunity & Leaky Gut Syndrome] ] can lead to increased permeability of the gut wall to toxins, microbes, undigested food, waste or larger than normal macromolecules. [S. Martin, [http://www.afpafitness.com/articles/LEAKGUT3.HTM Intestinal Permeability, BioMed Newsletter Issue No. 11, May 1995.] ] Some versions posit that these substances affect the body directly, while others postulate an immune reaction to these substances. [Kiefer D, Ali-Akbarian L. A brief evidence-based review of two gastrointestinal illnesses: irritable bowel and leaky gut syndromes. "Altern Ther Health Med" 2004;10:22-30. PMID 15154150.]

While many practitioners maintain that leaky gut syndrome is a bona fide medical condition, the area of "gut problems" lies between conventional and alternative medicine, and includes other diagnoses such as small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome or "small intestine bacterial overgrowth" (SIBO), and yeast syndrome or systemic candidiasis, and remains controversial and scientifically unsettled. [Pizzorno, JE, Murray, MT, (November 2005) Textbook of Natural Medicine, 3rd edition, Churchill Livingstone, pp 167, 584, 1527 ISBN 0-443-07300-7]

Leaky gut syndrome is believed to be a possible starting point or connection with many disorders such as asthma, diabetes, autoimmune diseases like lupus, diseases like scleroderma, internal colitis, long term disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, severe illnesses like multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome and Crohn's disease. [ [http://www.herbs2000.com/disorders/leaky_gut_syndrome.htm Leaking Gut Syndrome] ]

A 2008 study found that children with autism had no more peptides in their urine than typical children, casting doubt on the proposed mechanism underlying the leaky-gut theory and autism. [cite journal |journal= Arch Dis Child |date=2008 |title= Absence of urinary opioid peptides in children with autism |author= Cass H, Gringras P, March J "et al." |doi=10.1136/adc.2006.114389 |pmid=18337276 |laysummary=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7300327.stm |laysource= BBC News |laydate=2008-03-17]

Doctors or other health care practitioners who diagnose this syndrome explain that the lining or cell walls of the intestines "expand", allowing larger, incompletely digested particles to be partially absorbed. The intestine walls become inflamed due to the reaction of white blood cells to encapsulate the non-nutritive particles, causing a semi-infectious state. Low grade fever, transient gut pain, and a sense of inability to absorb nutrients are some reported symptoms in otherwise undiagnosed patients.

References

ee also

* Autistic enterocolitis

External links

* [http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism/gut.htm What is Leaky Gut Syndrome, Reprinted from AIA Newsletter No.18 (Summer 1997)]
* [http://www.mdheal.org/leakygut.htm Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Leo Galland, M.D.]
* [http://www.mlo-online.com/articles/0507/0507cover_story.pdf Article outlining the effects of LGS from Medical Laboratory Observer]