THE IMPORTANCE OF
NORMAL GUT FUNCTION
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Maintaining a proper plane of nutrition depends on two factors - proper nutrients supplied to the individual ( see Nutrition page) and the individual's ability to actually use (assimilate) the nutrients.
The individual's ability to assimilate the nutrients depends in turn on the efficiency of the organs of digestion - starting with the mouth, teeth, and salivary glands through the stomach and intestines, with the aid of the accessory organs of digestion like the liver and pancreas. The efficiency of the organs of digestion depends in part on the actions of the lowly bacteria in the gut.
One of the most important factors in the maintenance of health is the simple bacteria of the digestive tract. This is also one of the most overlooked parts of a proper health maintenance program.
Inadequate populations of the proper bacteria (normal flora), colonization of the gut by improper varieties of bacteria, yeast overgrowths, and/or the subsequent inflammation of the semi-permeable basement membrane in the intestines can lead to a condition known as Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS).
Leaky Gut Syndrome is a chronic debilitating condition that often goes undiagnosed by the mainstream medical and/or veterinary profession, as many doctors do not provide testing for leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability) or acknowledge that the condition exists. Many people are not even aware that they or their animals are suffering from a 'leaky gut'.
The basic organic defect (lesion) is an intestinal lining which is more permeable (porous) than normal. The abnormally large spaces present between the cells of the gut wall allow the entry of toxic material into the blood stream that would, in healthier circumstances, be repelled and eliminated.
The gut becomes leaky in the sense that bacteria, fungi, parasites and their toxins, undigested protein, fat and waste normally not absorbed into the bloodstream in the healthy state, pass through a damaged, hyper-permeable, porous or "leaky" gut.
The Leaky Gut Syndrome may be the cause of many of the so called 'etiology unknown' illnesses. LGS may also explain many of the symptoms patients have that confound and confuse many medical professionals.
The symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome are many and varied and may include: abdominal pain, heartburn, insomnia, bloating, anxiety, gluten intolerance, malnutrition, muscle cramps and pains, poor exercise tolerance, food allergies affecting any or every tissue or organ of the body.
The literature implicates LGS as a contributing factor in many diverse health issues, in both the human and the non-human populations. Among the syndromes/diseases thought to be influenced directly or indirectly by LGS are learning disorders/hyperactivity (chocolate lab or a Jack Russell terrier are two of many breeds that come to mind), immune deficiencies, behavioral anomalies, joint pain/arthritis, nutritional deficiencies, a myriad of stomach and intestinal disorders, allergies (itchy skin), autoimmune diseases, seizure disorders, asthma/respiratory difficulties, breast and colon cancer, liver disorders, cardiovascular disease, cystitis/bladder inflammation, dry eyes, weight gain or loss, periodontal disease, body odors, and bad breath.
In addition to the creation of food allergies by the leaky gut, the bloodstream is invaded by bacteria, fungi and parasites that, in the healthy state, would not penetrate the protective barrier of the gut. These microbes and their toxins, if present in large enough amounts, can overwhelm the liver's ability to detoxify. This results in syndromes such as confusion, memory loss, and brain fog.
Leaky gut syndrome also creates a long list of mineral deficiencies because the various carrier proteins present in the gastrointestinal tract that are needed to transport minerals to the blood are damaged by the inflammation process. For example, magnesium deficiency (low red blood cell magnesium) is quite a common finding in conditions with fibromyalgia-like symptomology despite a high magnesium intake through the diet and supplementation. If the carrier protein for magnesium is damaged, magnesium deficiency develops as the result of mal-absorption. Muscle pain and spasms can occur as a result. Similarly, zinc deficiency due to mal-absorption can result in hair loss or baldness as occurs in alopecia areata. Copper deficiency can occur in an identical way leading to high blood cholesterol levels and osteoarthritis. Further, bone problems develop as a result of the mal-absorption of calcium, boron, silicon and manganese.
The causes of LGS are diverse. The primary named factor is the use of antibiotics which kill the beneficial as well as the pathogenic bacteria in the body. Other equally common factors include the use of corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), over processed foods, food colorings and preservatives, stress, endotoxemia from colic, ingestion/absorption of extraneous and toxic chemicals, and parasitism.
A brief (and simplified) review of the properly working digestive tract may explain how easily things can go awry. Ingested food is immediately prepared for digestion by chewing (more or less depending on the species) and by the reactions with the enzymes in saliva. In the stomach, the food is exposed to an acid environment and to the digestive enzymes of the accessory organs of digestion. This chemical digestion continues in the small intestine where it is aided by bacterial degradation. Once the food is adequately digested, the basement membrane of the intestinal mucosa selectively filters the ingested material and absorbs the smaller, simpler components. The remainder is either further digested and absorbed or is eliminated through the large intestine.
If the environment of the digestive tract is altered by any of the above named causes of LGS (or any other cause not listed), the process of digestion is altered. The pH will change, the bacteria responsible for the proper digestion of the ingested material will change, there will be an increase in the non-beneficial bacteria and in yeast colonies, the basement membrane will become inflamed, and it will begin to leak so that larger and more complex substances are absorbed into the blood stream.
These large complex substances are antigenic and/or allergenic and set the stage for the diverse array of symptom complexes named above.
The Causes
The leaky gut syndrome is basically caused by the inflammation of the gut lining. This inflammation is usually brought about by the following:
Antibiotics (either topically or systemically), for minor rashes or topical infections, corticosteroids or the NSAIDs that are commonly used in conjunction with antibiotics, because they lead to the overgrowth of abnormal flora in the gastrointestinal tract (bacteria, parasites, candida, fungi).
Now combine this with the feeding of over processed commercial foods - foods which come with a whole alphabet soup of preservatives and colorings. These foods also contain complex proteins. The simple proteins of raw meat have been altered by cooking, pressure treatment, and being combined with plant proteins, all of which increase their size and complexity.
This sets the stage very early in life for many of the common ailments we see in our mature to aged pet population.
The recognition of the effects of LGS means that we can often intervene more quickly to prevent the onset or progression of debilitating symptom complexes by using probiotics (live cultures of beneficial bacteria) and other digestive aids in our pets who are receiving medicines. We can also help by removing processed, chemical laced foods from their diets.
It also means that we can treat many so called diseases at the level of their cause, and not just at the level of the result. The first step in treating many, if not most, chronic debilitating disease complexes is to correct gut function - repopulate with the proper bacteria, calm the inflammation, overcome the yeast overgrowths, remove the endotoxins produced by the incorrect bacteria, and support the accessory organs. Then remove processed foods from the diet and feed a species appropriate diet of simple fresh foods.
Approached from this level, NORMALIZING GUT FUNCTION, many symptoms will disappear and the patient will feel better without having to resort to more heavy handed medicines. And for the patients who still display some symptoms, their complaints are generally much easier to manage than if they were being fueled by the toxins of Leaky Gut Syndrome.
How to reverse Leaky Gut syndrome
None of these treatments: corticosteroids, prescription antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs, do anything to heal the leaky gut problem. To reverse the leaky gut syndrome the diet must be completely changed to one which is specie-appropriate.
Treatment might also include the use of natural plant-based antibiotics, anti-parasitics, and anti-fungals such as: echinacea, garlic, grapefruit seed extract to name a few.
Beneficial supplements for leaky gut syndrome may include natural digestive enzymes, probiotics, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and other plant extracts.