Leaky gut syndrome

​Digestion is the immune system

Our gastrointestinal system runs from the mouth to the anus. The function of the gastrointestinal system is the breakdown, absorption and excretion of nutrients and waste products. During normal digestion, food is broken down into smaller parts such as glucose, amino acids and fatty acids. These are later absorbed in the small intestine and waste products are excreted in the rectum. Approximately 80-90% of our immune system is located in our intestinal system, and therefore optimal functioning of the gastrointestinal system is extremely important for our health.

Everyone will basically have leaky gut, as nutrients and waste must be sorted in and out of the intestines. However, it depends on the degree to which the intestinal barrier is broken down.

The importance of mucous membranes in the intestine

The intestinal mucosa (intestinal walls) consists of epithelial cells that are connected by tight junctions. Tight junctions are connections that control the passage of nutrients and waste products. Normally, good digested nutrients pass into the blood and to the liver, which then distributes nutrients throughout the body’s tissues. If you have a leaky gut, the tight junctions are broken down, making the intestinal mucosa more permeable. This means that foreign substances and molecules can pass into the blood. The immune system will react to the foreign substances and can create both local and systemic autoimmune reactions.

Inflammation causes redness, heat, pain, swelling and reduced mobility, not only in the body’s tissues, but also in the cells of the intestine.

In addition to the wrong bacteria, toxins and undigested nutrients coming out through the intestinal mucosa, more useful nutrients will also leak out, which the intestinal mucosa otherwise needs to renew itself. This leads to more leaky gut due to the impaired function of the intestinal mucosa. Over time, this can lead to inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Source: Sundforskning.dk

Causes of leaky gut

There are several factors that contribute to the development of leaky gut:

• A diet high in animal fat, too little fiber, and many gluten-containing grains mainly plays a major role.
• Food reactions/allergies can cause immune activation and cause tight junctions to remain open longer than they should.
• Painkillers of the NSAID type, such as ibuprofen and acetylsalicylic acid, damage the intestinal mucosa due to inflammation.
• Infections in the body
• Excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine
• Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the intestinal flora, produces an increased amount of a protein, zonulin, which breaks down the bonds between intestinal cells. Dysbiosis can occur after antibiotic treatment.
• Long-term stress, whether physical, chemical or psychological, will increase the amount of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol changes the microorganism environment in the intestines, reduces the production of digestive enzymes and thereby leaves undigested food in the intestines. This creates inflammation in the intestines and damages the intestinal walls.

Symptoms of leaky gut

If you experience any of the following problems, it may be a sign that you have leaky gut:

• Fatigue
• Bloated stomach
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
• Pain in joints or muscles
• Malnutrition with nutrient deficiencies
• Food intolerance
• Allergy or asthma
• Autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis
• Skin problems
• Mental disorders

Source: Ernæringslinjen.dk

How quickly does the intestine heal?

​It is individual how quickly your gut heals. Research shows that it is possible to improve conditions in the intestines if you have leaky gut. Because we are all so different and each with our own intestinal flora, it is not possible to say exactly how quickly it heals. But with the right measures and lifestyle changes, you can go a long way!

Our intestines need to be somewhat permeable. The problem is when it becomes too permeable and the unimportant stuff gets let out.

How do you get a healthy gut?

You achieve a healthy gut by removing the factors that predispose to leaky gut and adding what is missing. This often involves dietary and lifestyle changes.

When we talk about gut health, it’s about the gut flora, which will be discussed in more detail later.

Is leaky gut a diagnosis?

Leaky gut is not a diagnosis but a syndrome, i.e. a collection of several symptoms. Leaky gut is associated with several diseases such as Crohn’s disease, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), celiac disease, diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

How do I strengthen the intestinal flora?

There are 30% more bacterial cells in our bodies than human cells. The bacteria that live in our intestines are called the intestinal flora. The intestinal flora is a large community, where each group of microorganisms has its own function. When each group can do its job, everything breathes peace and idyll.

You can strengthen your intestinal flora by giving it what it lacks.

• Probiotics are multiplied by the intake of prebiotic fibers
• Probiotics are live microorganisms that naturally occur in the intestines. They can be taken to improve the intestinal environment by suppressing the bacteria that cause disease. Probiotics are mainly obtained through dairy products (lactic acid bacteria).
• Prebiotics are dietary fiber, a natural carbohydrate, whose purpose is to promote the development of microorganisms in the intestine. Prebiotics feed your intestines.

These foods naturally build up the intestinal flora, you can benefit from eating at least 3 from the list daily, and feel free to alternate between them:

• Sprouts
• Broccoli
• Clover
• Lentils
• Mustard seeds
• Sunflower
• Kale
• Green beans

Diet and leaky gut

The balance of the intestinal flora is determined, among other things, by our diet and the environment we are in.

Gluten and leaky gut

Gluten irritates the intestines even if you don’t have celiac disease and are particularly sensitive. Gluten activates the protein zonulin. Zonulin breaks down the tight junctions, making the intestines more leaky and permeable. Especially when you eat a lot of grain products containing wheat, rye and barley.

Lactose and leaky gut

Dairy products contain milk sugar, lactose. Lactose is broken down in the small intestine by the enzyme lactase into smaller sugar molecules, glucose and galactose, as lactose cannot be absorbed until it has been broken down. The two broken down molecules are used and converted into energy in the body. Leaky gut therefore has a negative impact on energy metabolism in the body.

Lactic acid bacteria and leaky gut

Lactic acid bacteria, which are found in the intestinal flora, are important as they break down undigested molecules. Lactic acid bacteria produce the enzyme lactase, which can break down undigested lactose into lactic acid. Lactic acid stimulates intestinal movements and maintains a normal intestinal flora as it lowers the pH value and ensures that harmful and disease-causing bacteria in the intestines are weakened.

Treatment of leaky gut

It is about finding the cause of the intestinal system being disturbed, and then removing it. As mentioned, the causes can be manifold. It is important to remember that a leaky gut does not stand alone, and that there may be other factors such as stress, poor diet, medication use, dysbiosis, etc. that play a role in your intestines not functioning optimally. Treatment mainly consists of lifestyle changes, including dietary changes.

Source: Healthpath.com

You can live with a leaky gut, but it will create a lot of imbalances in digestion and can be a breeding ground for several diseases.

Osteopathy and leaky gut

The osteopathic examination is holistic, where all the body’s systems are examined to find the cause of leaky gut. It is important that there is a balance between the body’s systems for the body’s ability to heal to be optimal. The purpose of osteopathy is to create the right self-healing conditions for the body.

Together with the therapist, a treatment plan is created for how you can help improve your leaky gut symptoms and guide you in this regard.

Osteopathic treatment of leaky gut

• Treatment of dysfunctions in the skull, to affect the brain, cranial nerves and central nervous system
• Correction of areas throughout the spine that control the gut’s autonomic nervous system
• Normalization of the sphincter muscles of the entire intestinal system
• Mobilization of intestinal adhesions
• Treatment of the blood circulation
• Reduce stress, including manual treatment of kidneys, adrenal glands, heart, lungs
• Advice on diet, activity, sleep, etc.

Good advice

• Cut down on foods with gluten
• Reduce sugar intake
• Reduce intake of saturated fat and animal meat products
• Increase your intake of vegetables
• Drink plenty of fluids, at least 2 L per day.
• Consider your medication use
• Reduce physical and mental stress
• Increase your activity level