What Does It Mean to Have a 'Leaky Gut'?

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

Key Takeaways

• The term "leaky gut" refers to a damaged or irritated intestinal lining that allows bacteria and undigested foods to pass through, leading to inflammation and digestive problems.

• However, leaky gut is not recognized as a medical diagnosis.

• Bloating, gas, fatigue, and headaches are symptoms associated with leaky gut, but they can also be attributed to other conditions.

The term “leaky gut” conjures an image of foods falling out of a hole in your intestines, but it isn’t a medical diagnosis and it might be misleading.

Leaky gut is sometimes used to describe how toxins and bacteria escape through the lining of the intestines and cause symptoms like bloating, gas, fatigue, headaches, and food sensitivities.

“It might be better described as microscopic permeability as opposed to a leaky pipe in your bathroom with a visible drip,” Mark DeLegge, MD, a Charleston-based gastroenterologist with a specialty in nutrition, told Verywell in an email.

Leaky gut is sometimes referred to as increased intestinal permeability, a condition where the intestinal lining becomes irritated or damaged and allows bacteria and undigested foods to pass through.

“If you had a leaky gut where contents were spilling into the bloodstream or adjacent tissue, you would develop inflammation, sepsis, and death,” DeLegge said.

There’s currently no test to diagnose leaky gut, which leads to confusion and self-diagnosis with this condition.

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“Because the symptoms of leaky gut can be so different from person to person and the diseases associated with leaky gut are so different, many people read the symptoms and believe they have the disease,” DeLegge said.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that certain substances, like vitamins and minerals, do pass through the gut lining into the blood during digestion.

“The intestine is designed to be a semi-permeable organ. Multiple processes work to allow nutrients in and keep environmental toxins out,” Julie Stefanski, MEd, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian based in Baltimore, Maryland told Verywell in an email.

Misinformation about leaky gut and gut health may mislead some people to attribute their symptoms to leaky gut, Stefanski added. Bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, and brain fog are associated with multiple medical conditions, or they could be part of a normal digestive process.

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Although leaky gut is not recognized as a legitimate medical diagnosis, the various symptoms may prompt people to seek out treatment.

“Leaky gut has taken on a life of its own. There are supplements for leaky gut and the bottom line is there’s no data to support that,” Carol Ireton-Jones, PhD, RDN, a nutrition therapy specialist based in Carrollton, Texas, told Verywell.

Some research, primarily conducted on animals, suggests that stress, alcohol, excessive antibiotic use, and consuming a Western-style diet may contribute to increased intestinal permeability.

“The best thing is improving your diet,” Ireton-Jones said. Increasing fiber intake from consuming fruits and vegetables might help reduce inflammation and gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion and constipation.

“I would like for people to see their gastroenterologist, and if they are not taken seriously, see a different gastroenterologist,” she said. "Because these are real symptoms."

Read Next: What to Eat When You Have Leaky Gut Syndrome

Key Takeaways

It can be frustrating and confusing to not receive a diagnosis for your gastrointestinal issues. Consider working with a trusted healthcare provider to create a plan to manage your symptoms.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.