Leaky Gut Syndrome
What can cause a "leaky" bowel?
Source: NHS
In this topic (4)
The inside of the bowel is lined by a single layer of cells that make up the mucosal barrier (the barrier between the inside of the gut and the rest of the body).
This barrier is effective at absorbing nutrients, but prevents most large molecules and germs passing from inside the bowel into the bloodstream and potentially causing widespread symptoms.
In some circumstances, this barrier can become less effective and "leaky", although this in itself is not generally thought to be sufficientto cause serious problems.
Alcohol and certain painkillers
Alcohol, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are well-known irritants of the bowel lining. They can damage the seals between cells, allowing some substances to pass through the gaps and into the bloodstream.
Gastroenterologists (specialists in gut conditions) generally agree that these irritants don't usually cause anything more than just mild inflammation of a particular area of the bowel.
This will usually cause no obvious symptoms and will improve over time if you stop taking the medication or stop drinking alcohol. At the very worst, the inflammation might be bad enough to occasionally cause ulcers in the bowel lining.
Certainconditions and treatments
The following conditions and treatments can also damage the seals in the bowel lining:
- inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease
- infections of the intestines such as salmonella , norovirus and giardiasis
- coeliac disease
- chemotherapy medicines
- chronic kidney disease
- radiotherapy to the abdomen (tummy)
- immunosuppressants (medicines that weaken the immune system)
- HIV/AIDS
- cystic fibrosis
- type 1 diabetes
- sepsis
- complicated surgery
Generally, even in these situations treatment for a "leaky" bowel isnt necessary. However, under certain circumstances people with Crohn's disease, for example, may benefit from a liquid diet to reduce bowel inflammation, which also improves the leaky bowel (read more about treating Crohn's disease ).
Articles for Leaky Gut Syndrome
Advice and further information
If you have symptoms that are not explained by a diagnosis, it may help to read the topic on medically unexplained symptoms . Such mystery symptoms are surprisingly common, accounting for up to a fift
Introduction
"Leaky gut syndrome" is a proposed condition some health practitioners claim is the cause of a wide range of long-term conditions.
The"leaky gut syndrome" theory
Exponents of "leaky gut syndrome" largely practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine believe the bowel lining can become irritated and "leaky" as the result of a much wider range of fact
What can cause a "leaky" bowel?
The inside of the bowel is lined by a single layer of cells that make up the mucosal barrier (the barrier between the inside of the gut and the rest of the body). This barrier is effective at absorbi
