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Home > Digestive > Conditions > 8 Risk Factors Associated With a Leaky Gut

8 Risk Factors Associated With a Leaky Gut

Updated on November 2, 2022
6 min read
By Shiza Khan, M.Sc. – Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics | Dietitian/Nutritionist

In this article:

  • Risk Factors Associated With a Leaky Gut
  • Most-Asked Questions About a Leaky Gut
  • Final Word

The intestine is protected by an intestinal barrier that may be affected by various factors such as diseases of the intestine, infection, and alteration in the balance of gut microorganisms.

risk factors for leaky gut you should know about

Changes in this intestinal barrier can lead to a condition known as leaky gut syndrome. This can cause substances within the intestine such as food particles and bacteria to leach into the blood. (1)

The complications that can arise from a leaky gut involve organ disorders as the pathogens travel via the blood to different organs and cause dysfunction. (1)

Risk Factors Associated With a Leaky Gut

These are the factors that can lead to the development of a leaky gut.

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1. Autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disorders refer to diseases in which the immune system attacks the body. Diseases such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus can all cause a leaky gut. (2)

2. Inflammation-causing conditions

Certain illnesses create a state of inflammation in the body where inflammation-causing substances are released into the blood and trigger an immune response. This inflammation can damage the biodiversity of gut microorganisms and cause a leaky gut. (3)

Inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease are all examples of illnesses that can cause an inflammatory response in the body. (4)

In addition, a diet high in fat and sugar that includes processed foods such as cakes, biscuits, pastries, cold cut meats, high-sugar drinks, and packaged fruit juices can also lead to an inflammatory state and increase the risk of a leaky gut. (3)

3. Infections that cause intestinal injury

infections that cause intestinal injury can be a risk factor for leaky gut

HIV infection can create a disbalance in gut microorganisms much like inflammatory bowel disease. It is because an HIV infection triggers an autoimmune reaction in the body and the immune cells that respond to the infection affect gut microorganisms negatively. (5)

4. Chemotherapy/radiation

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can affect gut microorganisms by creating an imbalance in their diversity and increasing the permeability of the intestinal lining. This ultimately causes a leaky gut, which is potentially dangerous for cancer patients due to their already lowered immune status. (6)

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5. Medications

The long-term and consistent use of medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be harmful to the intestines.

NSAIDs can tear down the thin layer of protective cells that act as a lining or barrier. Once this layer is breached, foreign bodies and disease-causing bacteria can leak into the blood and cause further damage to the rest of the body. (7)

6. Food allergies

Food allergies may not directly cause a leaky gut but they can worsen it. Food allergens can escape into the bloodstream, spiking the body’s immune response, which will worsen a leaky gut.

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To avoid this complication, it is better to completely eliminate food sources of allergy from the diet. (8)

7. Alcohol consumption

excessive alcohol consumption can be a risk factor for leaky gut

Excessive alcohol consumption can cause damage to the intestinal barrier and change gut biodiversity. Both of these changes can lead to a leaky gut.

Therefore, in addition to its harmful effects on the liver and brain, alcohol can also affect other organs by influencing gut microorganisms and the immune response. (9)

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8. Stress

Studies have found that stress, depression, and other mood disorders influence gut microorganisms possibly due to the rise in the levels of cortisol, a hormone that causes stress. (10)

These changes in gut microorganisms can weaken the intestinal barrier and thus cause a leaky gut.

Most-Asked Questions About a Leaky Gut

What food can I eat to improve a leaky gut?

what foods can you eat to improve a leaky gut?

Probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, and tempeh can be very beneficial in restoring the diversity of gut microorganisms. In addition, prebiotic foods such as soluble fiber from oats, rice, and bananas can also help.

Make sure you avoid high-fat and high-sugar foods.

How long does it take to fix a leaky gut?

Upon dietary intervention, it may take up to 3–4 months to restore a healthy gut function.

How do I know my leaky gut is healed?

You may observe an improvement in energy levels, less bloating, improved bowel movement, and healthy-looking skin. At this point, it is a good idea to get a blood test to determine the progress of the condition.

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Final Word

A healthy gut plays a more important role in health and overall well-being than we know or give credit for. Gut microorganisms form a protective layer around the inner wall of the intestine to prevent the leaking of substances and foreign bodies such as disease-causing bacteria and pathogens into the blood.

Changes in the body due to illnesses, inflammation, chronic conditions, immune responses, and drugs can change the diversity and number of microorganisms, which can ultimately break down that protective barrier. This creates a gap or leak in the gut, which then releases food particles and bacteria into the blood that freely travel to other organs and cause damage.

It is important to manage a leaky gut to maintain good overall health.

References
  1. Usuda H, Okamoto T, Wada K. Leaky gut: Effect of dietary fiber and fats on microbiome and intestinal barrier. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8305009/. Published July 16, 2021.
  2. Paray BA, Albeshr MF, Jan AT, Rather IA. Leaky gut and autoimmunity: An intricate balance in individuals health and the diseased State. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7767453/. Published December 21, 2020.
  3. Malesza IJ, Malesza M, Walkowiak J, et al. High-fat, western-style diet, systemic inflammation, and gut microbiota: A narrative review. Cells. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8619527/. Published November 14, 2021.
  4. What is an inflammation? – informedhealth.org – NCBI bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/.
  5. Alzahrani J, Hussain T, Simar D, et al. Inflammatory and immunometabolic consequences of gut dysfunction in HIV: Parallels with IBD and implications for reservoir persistence and non-AIDS comorbidities. EBioMedicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6710907/. Published August 2019.
  6. Deleemans JM, Chleilat F, Reimer RA, et al. The chemo-gut study: Investigating the long-term effects of chemotherapy on gut microbiota, metabolic, immune, psychological and cognitive parameters in young adult cancer survivors; study protocol. BMC cancer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6927187/. Published December 23, 2019.
  7. Bhatt AP; Gunasekara DB; Speer J; Reed MI; Peña AN; Midkiff BR; Magness ST; Bultman SJ; Allbritton NL; Redinbo MR; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced leaky gut modeled using polarized monolayers of primary human intestinal epithelial cells. ACS infectious diseases. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29094594/.
  8. Niewiem M, Grzybowska-Chlebowczyk U. Intestinal barrier permeability in allergic diseases. Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9101724/. Published April 30, 2022.
  9. Calleja-Conde J, Echeverry-Alzate V, Bühler K-M, et al. The immune system through the lens of alcohol intake and gut microbiota. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8303153/. Published July 13, 2021.
  10. Madison A, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: Human-bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and Nutrition. Current opinion in behavioral sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7213601/. Published August 2019.
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