- The articles published on the Darmklachten.nl website were written by Saskia van As. She is a BIG-registered physician and a member of the physicians’ association AVIG.
- The purpose of the articles is to provide insight and background information about the various stool tests offered on the Darmklachten.nl website.
- The analyses are carried out in the MGlab@Advies laboratory.
- The staff of Darmklachten.nl advise you to always discuss the results with your own healthcare provider.
- If intestinal parasites or the bacterium Helicobacter pylori have been detected, it is essential that the results are passed on to the treating (general) practitioner so that treatment can be started. These analyses can also be requested by a GP or specialist.
- The result of a gut flora analysis or a histamine intolerance test is best discussed with a healthcare provider who has a naturopathic practice.
- No treatments or therapeutic advice are provided.
Diet for a leaky gut
Do you have damage to the intestinal wall? This damage is often referred to as a leaky gut. It can develop due to inflammation or an unfavourable dietary pattern. The degree of intestinal damage can be measured with a stool test that measures the zonulin level. Following an elimination-rotation diet can help remedy a leaky gut. The Darmklachten.nl website provides more information about the problem of a leaky gut and the diet that may help recovery. You can request a test yourself. Read on for more information about this problem. If testing has shown that you have a leaky gut, it is important to discuss this with your treating physician.
What is a leaky gut?
Leaky gut is the term used to describe damage to the intestinal wall. The wall of the intestine consists of a layer of cells called the epithelium. The cells of the epithelial layer respond to the intestinal contents and absorb nutrients. The spaces between intestinal cells can actively open to allow nutrients to pass through. When the intestinal wall is damaged, fewer beneficial substances are absorbed and harmful substances may enter. This is also called a leaky gut. To measure damage to the intestinal wall, a zonulin test is requested. You can help restore the intestinal wall by following a special diet. During this diet, grains are omitted because they may irritate the intestinal wall.
Have a zonulin test performed
The epithelium of the intestinal wall is made up of epithelial cells. Between these cells there is a space. This space consists of very narrow channels that play an important role in the absorption of nutrients. The openings of these channels are actively regulated by muscle-like tissue located within the intestinal cell. In our body, more than 50 proteins form a network and ensure that the channels between the cells close or open. A substance that is very important for regulating the absorption of nutrients is zonulin.
Would you like to find out whether you have a leaky gut? You can have a zonulin stool test performed. The zonulin level is measured in the laboratory. If there is a strong increase in the zonulin level, this is referred to as a leaky gut. This is not a diagnosis in itself. There are several conditions that can cause damage to the intestinal wall. It is therefore necessary to carry out additional testing so that the cause can be identified.
Leaky gut and zonulin
When the wall of the small intestine is damaged, substances can pass through the channels more easily. This is where the term ‘leaky gut’ comes from. When intestinal cells are damaged, zonulin enters the intestinal contents. Stool testing can determine whether zonulin values are elevated. This is accompanied by reduced absorption of nutrients and harmful substances can enter more easily. This causes symptoms.
Causes of a leaky gut
A leaky gut can have various causes. We list them for you:
- Gluten intolerance or coeliac disease
- Food allergies
- Infection with bacteria
- Giardia lamblia infection. This can be detected with a stool test
- Lactose intolerance. This can be detected with a breath test
- Crohn’s disease
Additional testing
People with gluten intolerance often have a leaky gut and high zonulin values. A test can be carried out to assess whether antibodies against gliadin and t-transglutaminase are elevated. Another marker that can indicate an inflamed intestine is elevated calprotectin. This elevated value is seen in coeliac disease, inflammation and also Crohn’s disease. Food allergies can damage the intestinal wall, so it is important to determine what a person is allergic to.
Treatment of a leaky gut
Before you can begin treatment for a leaky gut, it is important that a diagnosis is made first. A doctor can help you with this. Once a diagnosis has been made, you can receive appropriate treatment. In addition, in the event of an infection with bacteria or parasites, it is advisable to follow a diet that gives the intestines a rest. You can follow this both during treatment and for several weeks afterwards.
Diet for a leaky gut
With high zonulin values, the wall of the small intestine is affected in most cases. Because the small intestine plays a central role in the absorption of nutrients, it is recommended to avoid as much as possible foods that may irritate the intestinal wall. During this diet, you omit all grains, nuts, seeds, soy products, legumes and dairy products for several weeks. You are therefore essentially following a low-starch diet and also use no, or as few as possible, seeds and nuts. In addition, it is important to eat broth several times a day. Make this broth from bones. For example, use a chicken carcass, beef and lamb bones, and also make broth from fish bones or heads. The soup therefore contains glucosamine, which helps repair the intestinal wall. You can also include fats, proteins and vegetables in your diet. Leafy vegetables in particular are largely digested in the large intestine. This can help relieve the small intestine. It is useful to follow a rotation schedule. This means choosing different foods each day and avoiding an overly one-sided diet.
Follow-up
After treatment and following the diet for 4 weeks, the stool is checked again to assess whether the bacteria or parasites have disappeared. By repeating the zonulin test, we can check whether the intestinal wall has recovered. In the case of food allergies or coeliac disease, you must of course avoid all allergens or gluten-containing products for life; this advice also applies to people with Crohn’s disease.
Advantages of the zonulin test
Many people have had gastrointestinal complaints for years without knowing the cause. By using the zonulin test, people can monitor for themselves whether changes in the diet have improved the condition of the intestine. In many cases, a reduction in zonulin values is already seen after 3 weeks of the diet.
Conclusion
By measuring the zonulin level in the stool, we can assess whether there is a leaky gut. The cause must then be identified. This could be, for example, an allergy, gluten intolerance, bacteria or parasites. The diet focuses on recovery of the intestine and broadly consists of omitting grains and other nutrients that irritate the intestine. Would you like to know more about the diet for a leaky gut and the zonulin test? Please feel free to contact us.
About Darmklachten.nl
Darmklachten.nl is an initiative of MGlab&Advies B.V., a laboratory specialising in stool testing. …read more
