Leaky Gut Test UK
Do you experience symptoms including multiple food intolerances that have developed for no apparent reason? Do you experience bloating, digestive issues after eating certain foods?
This may be due to a condition known as Leaky gut or more scientifically as Intestinal Permeability.
What is Leaky Gut?
Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, is a condition where the lining of the intestines becomes more porous than usual. [Source: PubMed]
The lining of your intestines sprawls across more than 4,000 square feet of surface area.
Functioning optimally, this lining serves as a barrier, regulating what substances enter the bloodstream.
However, a compromised gut lining can develop significant gaps, enabling partially digested food, toxins, and pathogens to penetrate into the underlying tissues.
This leakage can trigger inflammation throughout the body and may contribute to various health issues, including digestive problems, food sensitivities, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic conditions. Source: PubMed
What are the symptoms of Leaky Gut?
Some of the symptoms of leaky gut include:
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Flatulence
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Difficulty tolerating foods
- Skin issues
- Fatigue and Brain fog
- Asthma
- Depression
- food allergies and sensitivities
- Headaches
- autoimmune diseases such as lupus, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- fibromyalgia
- arthritis,
- acne,
- obesity
- mental illnesses.
What causes Leaky gut?
Imbalance in Gut Microbiota:
When the balance of bacteria in the gut gets disrupted (known as dysbiosis), it can lead to inflammation and damage to the intestinal barrier. This imbalance can be caused by various factors like antibiotics, diet, aging, genetics, and stress.
Infections such as Helicobacter Pylori:
Certain infections, such as Helicobacter pylori in the stomach, can change how permeable the intestines are. Even viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages) might play a role. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that can infect the stomach lining. When H. pylori bacteria infect the stomach, they can cause inflammation and damage to the stomach lining, leading to conditions like gastritis and ulcers.
The link with H. pylori and intestinal permeability is that the infection can sometimes affect the tight junctions between cells in the stomach and intestines, making them more permeable. This increased permeability can allow harmful substances produced by H. pylori, such as toxins, to pass through the gut barrier and enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to systemic effects and further complications.
Diet:
A diet high in sugars, saturated fats, processed foods, and low in fibre, is believed to initiate increased intestinal permeability.
Stress:
Psychological stress and physical stressors like endurance exercise can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria and contribute to gut permeability.
Medications:
Certain medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, can affect the gut lining and increase permeability.
Alcohol:
Heavy alcohol use is associated with disruption of the gut barrier.
Other Factors:
Pregnancy and dietary components like emulsifiers in foods and bile acids may also play a role in increasing intestinal permeability.
Source PubMed
What are the most reliable tests for Leaky Gut Syndrome?
There are several tests that can be conducted to test for Leaky Gut syndrome. These include stool, urine and blood tests. Please scroll down below to read more about Leaky Gut tests. You can also contact us by phone, or email.
Our most comprehensive Test for Leaky Gut is a GI-MAP test
Stool tests- Zonulin- GI MAP
£355
This comprehensive stool test will also examine Zonulin as well a number of pathogens including candida, parasites and bacteria and Helicobacter Pylori.
These markers may o be underlying causes of Intestinal Permeability.
Zonulin can be conducted as a stand-alone or as part of our comprehensive GI MAP stool test.
You can order the GI-MAP with Zonulin test by clicking here
Blood Tests for Leaky Gut £345
If you would like to order this test please contact us
The Advanced Intestinal Barrier Assessment is a comprehensive blood test if you think you might have Intestinal Permeability and want to find out what might be causing it. It is an extremely thorough test and checks for a combination of markers that may be linked to Leaky gut. The markers that will be covered in the test are listed below:
- Zonulin
- Histamine
- Diamine oxidase (DAO)
- Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgA, IgG, IgM
What is the link between Zonulin and Intestinal Permeability?
Zonulin is a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating the tight junctions between cells lining the intestines. These tight junctions act as gatekeepers, controlling the passage of substances through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. If your levels of zonulin become elevated, it can lead to increased intestinal permeability.
Histamine Intolerance: Individuals with leaky gut may also experience histamine intolerance. When the gut lining is compromised, it can lead to impaired metabolism of histamine. This means the body may not be able to break down histamine properly, leading to an accumulation of histamine and associated symptoms such as headaches, digestive issues, skin problems, and more.
Diamine oxidase (DAO)
Diamine Metabolism: DAO is responsible for breaking down histamine in the gut. When DAO levels are insufficient, histamine can accumulate in the body, contributing to symptoms associated with histamine intolerance. In the context of leaky gut, where the intestinal barrier is compromised, the absorption of histamine and other substances increases. If DAO levels are low, the ability to metabolize this increased histamine load may be impaired, exacerbating symptoms related to histamine intolerance.
Zonulin Stand-alone £100
If you would like to order this test please contact us
If you would like to test for zonulin as a standalone levels can also be assessed via a stool test.
Blood Zonulin £120
If you would like to order this test please contact us
If you would like to test for Zonulin in the blood, we can refer you to get a blood draw.
How is Leaky Gut treated?
Supplements including Proboitics, Vitamin A and D, Zinc , short-chain fatty acids, methionine, glutamine, and probiotics may help restore intestinal permeability.
In addition following a healthy anti-inflammatory diet has been shown to help as well as following the Low-Fodmap diet.
How can I book a consultation?
If you would like to book a consultation, please contact us on 0345 1297996. During the consultation we will review your symptoms, recommend appropriate tests and give you detailed dietary and supplement advice to restore and repair your Gut Lining.