Many people say that they have a leaky gut. The term is often used in naturopathic practice, but like Candida overgrowth in the intestine, it is not an ‘alternative condition’. Damage to the intestinal wall of both the small and large intestine is an important clinical condition. The term should not be used as a diagnosis; it is a symptom. It is important to determine the cause by requesting the zonulin test.

Together with immune cells, intestinal cells regulate the opening and closing of the channels located in the intestinal wall. The structures that open and close these channels are called Tight Junctions. When the function of the Tight Junctions is reduced, fewer beneficial substances are absorbed while, at the same time, the passage of unwanted molecules increases. This is referred to as a leaky gut. Zonulin plays an important role in the functioning of the Tight Junctions. When the intestinal wall is damaged or irritated, zonulin is released into the intestinal contents. Its level can be measured in the stool. An increase in zonulin in the stool indicates increased permeability of the small intestine and therefore a leaky gut.

Contents

The LEAKY GUT package contains the following analyses:

• Bile and pancreas module
  • Bile acids
  • Pancreatic elastase
• Gut flora panel 1 module
  • Enterobacteriaceae/E.coli
  • Enterococcus spp.
  • Lactobacillus spp.
  • Bifidobacterium spp.
• Gluten module
  • Secretory IgA
  • Anti-ht-Transglutaminase
  • Anti-Gliadin sIgA
• Histamine intolerance module
  • Histamine
• EDN module
  • Eosinophil derived Neurotoxin
• Zonulin module
  • Zonulin
• Inflammation panel 1 module
  • Calprotectin
  • β-Defensin-2
• Inflammation panel 2 module
  • Lactoferrin
  • Transferrin
• Intestinal parasites module (6 species)
  • Dientamoeba fragilis
  • Blastocystis hominis
  • Giardia lamblia
  • Cryptosporidium spp.
  • Entamoeba hystolitica
  • Cyclospora cayentanensis

Indications/Symptoms

A leaky gut can be caused by:
– Gluten intolerance
– Food allergies
– Reduced immunity due to a low sIgA level
– Infection with the parasites Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium spp.
– Bacterial infections, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter
– Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
– Inflammation of the pancreas: pancreatic elastase is then abnormal