Leaky gut syndrome is a disorder of intestinal permeability. A healthy gut lining consists of a huge surface area of specialised epithelial cells arranged in finger-like projections, called villi, covered with a glycocalyx matrix. This layer of cells only allows specific nutrients, such as ionic minerals, vitamins, simple sugars and amino acids, to be absorbed into the bloodstream (via spaces between the cells, called tight junctions, and through the cells themselves). Leaky gut occurs when junctions become not-so-tight, and/or epithelial cell integrity is lost. Then larger food particles enter the bloodstream, where they stimulate an immune response.
Stay tuned for leaky gut symptoms, diagnosis, pathogenesis and solutions.