Digestive Health More Digestive Diseases What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome (Intestinal Permeability)? By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong Facebook Twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 05, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH LinkedIn Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis A Word From Verywell Frequently Asked Questions In alternative medicine, a condition called leaky gut syndrome (or intestinal permeability) is said to affect the lining of the intestines, resulting in symptoms such as persistent muscle or joint pain, poor concentration, indigestion, gas, mood swings, nervousness, skin rashes, recurrent bladder or yeast infections, constipation, or anxiety. However, there is no scientific data in humans that a leaky gut resulting in increased intestinal permeability causes symptoms outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Brian A. Jackson / Getty Images Leaky Gut Syndrome/Intestinal Permeability Symptoms In alternative medicine, symptoms are said to include abdominal pain, asthma, chronic joint pain, chronic muscle pain, confusion, gas, indigestion, mood swings, nervousness, frequent colds, recurrent vaginal infections, skin rashes, diarrhea, recurrent bladder infections, poor memory, shortness of breath, constipation, bloating, anxiety, irritability, and fatigue. Causes The lining of the intestines creates a barrier that normally allows only properly digested fats, proteins, and starches to pass through and enter the bloodstream. It allows substances to pass in several ways. Chloride, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and free fatty acids diffuse through intestinal cells. Amino acids, fatty acids, glucose, minerals, and vitamins also cross through cells, but they do it by another mechanism called active transport. There's a third way that substances can pass through. The spaces in between the cells that line the intestines are normally sealed. These tight junctions are called desmosomes. When the intestinal lining becomes irritated, the junctions loosen and allow unwanted larger molecules in the intestines to pass through into the blood. These unwanted substances are seen by the immune system as foreign (because they aren't normally present in blood). This triggers an antibody reaction. When the intestinal lining becomes further damaged, even larger substances, such as disease-causing bacteria, undigested food particles, and toxins, pass directly through the damaged cells. Again, the immune system is alerted and antibodies and substances called cytokines are released. Cytokines alert white blood cells to fight the particles. This fight produces oxidants, which cause irritation and inflammation throughout the body. Causes ascribed in alternative medicine to leaky gut syndrome include: Chronic stressIntestinal infectionsSmall intestine bacterial overgrowthEnvironmental contaminantsExcess alcoholPoor dietNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other medications Alternative practitioners sometimes associate leaky gut syndrome with the following conditions: Autoimmune disease Celiac disease Crohn's disease Environmental illness Hives Acne Allergies Inflammatory joint disease/arthritis Intestinal infections Pancreatic insufficiency Ulcerative colitis Giardia (an intestinal parasitic infection) Chronic fatigue syndrome Eczema Psoriasis Food allergies and sensitivities Liver dysfunction Rheumatoid arthritis Irritable bowel syndrome Diagnosis The standard test for leaky gut syndrome is the mannitol and lactulose test. Both are water-soluble molecules that the body can't use. Mannitol is easily absorbed by people with healthy intestinal linings. Lactulose is a larger molecule and is only slightly absorbed. For the test, a person drinks a solution containing both mannitol and lactulose. Urine is collected for six hours, and the amount present in urine reflects how much of each was absorbed by the body. A healthy test shows high levels of mannitol and low levels of lactulose. If high levels of both molecules are found, it indicates a leaky gut condition. If low levels of both molecules are found, it indicates general malabsorption of all nutrients. A Word From Verywell It's important to keep in mind that there is limited research about leaky gut syndrome. It's also important to note that self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. If you're experiencing any symptoms or have concerns about your health, make sure to consult your physician. Frequently Asked Questions Is leaky gut a recognized medical condition? No, leaky gut is not a recognized medical diagnosis, but it is used in alternative health circles. The concept of leaky gut is intestinal permeability causes various health symptoms. While the intestinal lining can be dysfunctional, there is no evidence that this can contribute to illness. What are the symptoms of leaky gut syndrome? According to alternative medicine practitioners, leaky gut can cause abdominal pain, asthma, bloating, chronic joint pain, chronic muscle pain, confusion, constipation, diarrhea, frequent colds, irritability, gas, indigestion, memory problems, mood swings, nervousness, recurrent vaginal infections, shortness of breath, and skin rashes. How is leaky gut treated? Leaky gut is treated with diet and supplements. Recommended dietary approaches to treating leaky gut include eating more fruits and vegetables and avoiding certain foods. If you have leaky gut syndrome, you may need to avoid beans, legumes, corn, cruciferous vegetables, bran, fried foods, full-fat dairy, chocolate, pastries, cookies, xylitol, sorbitol, brown rice, soda, caffeine, and alcohol. What supplements can help leaky gut syndrome? Probiotic supplements are often recommended by alternative health professionals to treat leaky gut syndrome. Probiotics are often used to help balance intestinal bacteria and promote gut health. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Solan M. Putting a stop to leaky gut. Harvard Health Publishing. 2018. Bischoff SC, Barbara G, Buurman W, et al. Intestinal permeability--a new target for disease prevention and therapy. BMC Gastroenterol. 2014;14:189. doi:10.1186/s12876-014-0189-7 Camilleri M. Leaky gut: mechanisms, measurement and clinical implications in humans. Gut. 2019;68(8):1516-1526. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318427 Bishehsari F, Magno E, Swanson G, et al. Alcohol and Gut-Derived Inflammation. Alcohol Res. 2017;38(2):163-171. Harvard Health Publishing. Putting a stop to leaky gut. 2018. Michielan A, D'Incà R. Intestinal Permeability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Pathogenesis, Clinical Evaluation, and Therapy of Leaky Gut. Mediators Inflamm. 2015;2015:628157. doi:10.1155/2015/628157 Sequeira IR, Lentle RG, Kruger MC, Hurst RD. Standardising the lactulose mannitol test of gut permeability to minimise error and promote comparability. PLoS One. 2014;9(6):e99256. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099256 Additional Reading Lipski E. Digestive Wellness. Keats Publishing/McGraw Hill, 2001.