The “Leaky Gut Syndrome” is said to be able to explain the development of numerous chronic diseases. These assumptions are not scientifically proven. Numerous magazines, books and companies continue to spread the myth.
“Leaky Gut” means something like “leaky gut”. The theory behind this is that the openings in our intestinal lining are too large. This would make it easier for pathogens and other pollutants to enter our bodies.
Proponents of the theory claim that leaky gut syndrome is the cause of numerous diseases and symptoms, ranging from fatigue, migraines, allergies, rheumatism, diabetes and chronic inflammation to multiple sclerosis.
If one treats the leaky gut appropriately or prevents it, one can also alleviate the symptoms of these diseases or prevent them from developing. Not a single scientific work confirms these connections. In medicine, “leaky gut syndrome” is not even an established technical term.
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Our intestinal mucosa is generally not completely dense, but a permeable tissue. This is the only way nutrients from the intestines can reach the rest of our body. According to the ZEIT, however, it is actually the case with some clinical pictures that the small openings in the mucous membrane are enlarged.
This is the case, for example, with celiac disease (gluten intolerance), chronic intestinal inflammation (such as Crohn’s disease), allergies or an irritable bowel syndrome, according to a study. The intestinal mucosa can also become more permeable with excessive alcohol consumption and frequent intake of ibuprofen, ASA (acetylsalicylic acid) and other anti-inflammatory painkillers.
At first glance, this part of the Leaky Gut Syndrome theory is not all that wrong. But there is a catch: there is no scientific evidence that a permeable intestinal mucosa would promote diseases. Rather, it could also be that a leaky gut is the result of the above or other diseases.
The Harvard Medical School online magazine also reports that there are no studies to date that would prove a clear cause-effect relationship between altered intestinal mucosa and other chronic diseases. However, the term has currently established itself primarily in alternative medicine and also on social media.
Leaky Gut Syndrome: False Promises
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Monfocus)
Another problem with the Leaky Gut Syndrome theory is diagnosis. According to ZEIT, there are tests that doctors can use to measure the permeability of the intestinal mucosa. However, experts disagree on how meaningful and precise these tests really are.
And what a corresponding therapy for the syndrome should look like remains questionable. According to Medizin Transparent, you will find numerous articles on the Internet that praise enemas, dietary supplements or certain foods as a remedy for leaky intestines. However, since it has not even been scientifically clarified what “leaky gut” actually is and what consequences it has, these promised therapeutic measures are not scientifically proven facts either.
The ZEIT therefore describes the Leaky Gut Syndrome primarily as “pseudo-scientific profiteering”. After all, dietary supplements and other pills and capsules cost a lot of money in the first place. They probably won’t help.
Instead, according to Harvard Medical School, it makes more sense and is healthier to eat a healthy, balanced diet. A high-fiber and nutrient-rich diet actually supports our intestinal flora and, according to the Apotheken Umschau, can possibly protect us from some diseases (such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases). However, how and why chronic diseases such as intestinal inflammation, celiac disease, diabetes or multiple sclerosis develop has not yet been finally clarified.
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