Test for Leaky Gut
Leaky gut syndrome is also known as intestinal permeability.
A normal healthy gut lining allows certain molecules to pass across into the bloodstream such as vitamins, minerals and digested foods. It also acts as a barrier to prevent entry of larger damaging molecules, foreign particles and bacteria.
When there is damage to the intestinal lining it can open up slightly and this allows larger particles, such as undigested or partially digested foods and bacteria, to enter into the bloodstream. This leads to malabsorption of nutrients as they pass through into the blood stream in a form that the body cannot use and it can also lead to excessive absorption of bacteria and other molecules that the intestines usually prevent from entering the blood stream.
The immune system is not used to these particles and sees them as foreign and you can develop food sensitivities and candida infections as a result. This can lead to inflammation, irritation and allergic like reactions. Both malabsorption and increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) are associated with chronic gastrointestinal imbalances as well as many systemic disorders.
Increased gut permeability has been observed in a range of disorders such as
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Food allergy
- Inflammatory joint disease
- Chronic skin conditions such as psoriosis and eczema
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Vasculitis
- Anklosing spimdylitis
Decreased permeability, on the other hand, appears as a fundamental cause of malabsorption, subsequent malnutrition, and failure to thrive. In certain disease states of the small intestine, such as gluten-sensitive enteropathy , permeability to large molecules may increase while permeability to small molecules decreases, a result of damage to the microvilli – finger like projections that line the gut wall. As a result the correct nutrients levels become even less available to the body and it becomes less able to assist in the detoxification of antigens flooding the system.
Possible causes of intestinal permeability include
- Intestinal infection
- Ingestion of allergenic foods or toxic chemicals
- Deficient of secretory IgA
- Trauma and endotoxemia
- NSAID’s
What is being measured
Two natural sugar substances; lactulose and mannitol are taken which the body cannot breakdown and absorb. Your urine is then collected and levels of thee two sugar are measured aswell as the ratio between the two substances.
Specimen Requirements
2 urine samples 6 hours apart
Before Taking this Test
Make sure your fasting glucose level is not high (consult your health care practitioner)
Aspirin, NSAID’s and drugs containing sorbitol and or mannitol may affect the results and should be avoided for 48 hours prior to the test
See instructions inside test kit for more details
Turn-Around Time
18 Days
UK Orders
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European Orders
Test kits can be sent out to Europe however there is an additional £7.00 fee added for administration and postage to you (added to the price below). You will need to be responsible for returning the test kit andsamples should arrive at the lab within 24 hours of taking the sample.
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European Orders – Courier Delivery
Test kits can be sent out to Europe via our courier sevice however there is an additional £30.00 fee added if you would like to use this service. You will need to be responsible for returning the test kit and samples should arrive at the lab within 24 hours of taking the sample.
Leaky Gut Test - Europe; Courier Delivery
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