The intestinal mucosa, covering an area of approximately 500 m², is our largest body surface. It provides the conditions necessary for effective digestion and absorption of nutrients. However, various harmful substances also enter the intestine every day via our food.
These must be prevented from passing through the intestinal mucosa. If the intestinal mucosa exhibits uncontrolled permeability, this is referred to as ‘leaky gut’.
The most harmful substances include, in particular, undigested food proteins, bacterial toxins, parasites and certain medicines. Heavy metals from food and from dental fillings, in particular, also promote the permeability of the intestinal mucosa.
The immune system is the first to suffer. It is there that the harmful substances must be intercepted. A long-term disruption of the barrier, with constant activation of defence mechanisms, results in inflammation. These chronic reactions, which occur in the background, are summarised under the term ‘silent inflammation’ and are associated with various chronic conditions:
- allergic conditions
- chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
- Type 1 diabetes
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Migraine
- Multiple sclerosis
- Hepatic steatosis (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)
- Rheumatic diseases
Diagnosis:
In my practice, diagnosis is carried out via a blood test. In most cases, further stool analysis is also advisable, which examines various inflammatory markers, enteral protein loss and insufficient mucosal protection.
