The connection between leaky gut, inflammation and many autoimmune diseases

The-connection-between-leaky-gut-inflammation-and-many-autoimmune-diseases

Earlier we have talked about leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability, intestinal barrier, evidences of intestinal permeability, triggering factors.
Here we are discussing the connection between leaky gut, inflammation and many autoimmune diseases.

Leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability

We have mentioned earlier article that due to increase of intestinal permeability large molecules including food molecules, bacteria, toxins can trespass the barrier and enter into the blood stream. From there they can travel to different tissues/organs and creates many health problems. As those are not supposed to be there you immune system identify them as foreign invader. So immune system becomes high alert and thus produces antibodies against them. Some foods identified as healthy in normal situation can also become unhealthy if cross the barrier with larger molecule without properly breaking down. Human tissues also have proteins, antigens with similar structure to those food particles, bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. In such condition your immune system also mistakes such own tissue as foreign invaders and begins to attack own tissue. If such condition continues inflammation becomes chronic. And in that way chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease can trigger.

Researchers had evidenced increased intestinal permeability as well as found link of intestinal permeability with long list of chronic inflammatory conditions, allergies and autoimmune diseases, involving diverse organs, only few of them we are mentioning here.

The connection between leaky gut, inflammation and many autoimmune diseases

Gut disease

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) a common disorder that affects the large intestine with symptoms like abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation. On the other hand inflammatory bowel disease or IBD stands for inflammatory disease. Celiac disease a digestive disorder is triggered by an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Also celiac disease affects wide range of other area.

Inflammation in gut, intestinal permeability is linked with various diseases related to gastro intestinal tract including IBS, Inflammatory bowel disease (crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) celiac disease. An increased intestinal permeability promotes the exposition to intestinal content and triggers an immunological response and thus promotes intestinal inflammation.(1,2,3,4)

Liver disease

Gut liver axis, intestinal function also plays important roles in liver functions and liver diseases.

A common concern as excessive alcoholic consumption increases intestinal permeability and also can lead to alcoholic liver diseases through increased intestinal permeability. Liver cirrhosis is also associated with increased intestinal permeability. (5) Hepatic Encephalopathy i.e. brain dysfunction of liver disease with symptoms like confusion, speech and sleep problems, forgetfulness, altered behavior is associated with increased intestinal permeability.(6)

Intestinal microbiota also play many roles and may contribute to progression of chronic liver damage. Dysbiosis i.e. imbalance of gut bacteria involves with immune-inflammatory disorder, increases intestinal permeability and further leads to development of liver damage and liver cirrhosis. (7)

Diabetes

In type 1 diabetes an autoimmune disease, immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. And thus the pancreas your body is unable to produce insulin. Study evidenced increased intestinal permeability is associated with type 1 diabetes. (8)

Data also indicates that toxins derived from gut may contribute inflammation in insulin-resistant states in patients of type 2 diabetes. And increased gut derived inflammation had been observed in type 2 diabetic patients. Study also observed increased level of zonulin which is an indicator of abnormal intestinal permeability in blood of type 2 diabetic patients.(9)

Thyroid

Thyroiditis is one frequently associated autoimmune disease with type 1 diabetes. Growing evidences indicates association of leaky gut as well as role of bacterial imbalance with autoimmune thyroiditis. (10,11, 12)

Behavioral dysfunctions

Increased intestinal permeability not only allows toxins, bacteria but also large food molecules which does not pass normally to enter in blood circulation. Study evidenced connection between intestinal permeability and disease of behavioral dysfunctions. Kids with autism has shown close relation to some food proteins, toxins as well as increased intestinal permeability. Alterations of intestinal barrier was seen in patients with autism spectrum disorders and also in their first-degree relatives.(13) In a study published in ACTA Paediatrica found that 43% of autistic children had intestinal permeability. (14)

The-connection-between-leaky-gut-inflammation-and many-autoimmune-diseases

Psychiatric disorder

Psychiatric disorder like depression is associated with increased oxidative stress, inflammation, abnormal immune reaction. (15, 16) Patients with depression had shown higher level of antibodies against toxin from gut bacteria. People with depression may also for check intestinal permeability. (17)

Joint disease/Arthritis

Intestinal permeability has also shown its presence in inflammatory arthritic condition including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis. Gut bacteria also exerts a profound effect on the body’s immune system, both locally as well as at distant sites.(18, 19, 20, 21)

Inflammation and aging

Increased intestinal permeability promotes inflammation and inflammation promotes many chronic diseases including age related disorder. Toxins, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress are key player in development of age related disorder. Data from Two cohorts of healthy adults suggest that a leaky gut may play a critical role in the development of age-related inflammation and disability. (22)

Neurodegenerative disease

Toxins are believed to take participation in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Multiple sclerosis (MS) an autoimmune disease with abnormal immune also co occurs with celiac disease affects the central nervous system and brain function. Also multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may have an increased risk of coacquisition of Crohn’s disease. Antibody against toxin generated from gut bacteria has been observed in patients of MS. And also MS may be triggered by bacterial toxins. Which indicate entry of gut bacteria or toxins through intestinal barrier with increased permeability. Researchers observed increased Intestinal Permeability in MS and also aging neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson’s disease. (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)

Chronic Fatigue

Researchers found higher antibodies significantly against toxin from gut bacteria in blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue is also associated with abnormal immune reaction, increased oxidative stress and increased intestinal permeability. (30, 31)

Heart Disease

Gut derived endotoxins induce inflammation and is associated with insulin resistance and atherosclerosis or narrowing artery. Which further increase risk of the coronary heart disease. Recent study had shown patients with heart disease had higher serum zonulin and endotoxins levels than healthy people. They are indicating further research into the role played by intestinal permeability and endotoxemia not only in coronary heart disease but also in lifespan modulation . (32)

Bottom Line

Above list includes only few. Many diseases have shown to have multi directional factors.  Intestinal permeability appears as precursor to long list of diseases and condition. Leaky gut can also cause mal-absorption of nutrients and nutrition deficiency. Over all those data indicates one most basic part of a good health is the health of gut. If you have unhealthy gut, you will be exposed to many diseases. Anyone who are seeking good health or restore health, can start from gut health. In coming articles we will come with leaky gut testing, symptoms as well as healing and restoration of leaky gut.

Disclaimer:Above article is for informational purpose only
References:
1. Associations among Gut Permeability, Inflammatory Markers and Symptoms
in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome,Robert J. Shulman, Monica E.
Jarrett, Kevin C. Cain, Elizabeth Broussard, Margaret M. Heitkemper,
J Gastroenterol. 2014 Nov; 49(11): 1467–1476
2.Intestinal Permeability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Pathogenesis,
Clinical Evaluation, and Therapy of Leaky Gut, Andrea Michielan and
Renata D'Incà, Mediators Inflamm. 2015; 2015: 628157
3.Zonulin, a newly discovered modulator of intestinal permeability, and its
expression in coeliac disease,Fasano A, Not T, Wang W, Uzzau S, Berti I,
Tommasini A, Goldblum SE.,Lancet. 2000 Apr 29;355(9214):1518-9
4.Altered intestinal permeability is predictive of early relapse in
children with steroid‐responsive ulcerative colitis, E. MIELE, F.
PASCARELLA, L. QUAGLIETTA, E. GIANNETTI,L. GRECO, R. TRONCONE, A.
STAIANO,Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 25, Issue 8, Apr.
2007
5.Large intestine permeability is increased in patients with compensated
liver cirrhosis,Pijls KE, Koek GH, Elamin EE, de Vries H, Masclee AA,
Jonkers DM,Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2014 Jan;306(2):G147-53
6.Impaired intestinal permeability in liver cirrhosis. Association with
bacterial spontaneous peritonitis and hepatic encephalopathy,
Dan L. Dumitrascu, Stefan Tamas, Ioana Savuli, Sabin O. Cotul, Vasile
Andreica, Mircea Dragoteanu, Journal Of Hepatology,
April 2002, Volume 36, Supplement 1, Page 50
7.Bacterial translocation in patients with liver cirrhosis: physiology,
clinical consequences, and practical implications,Francesca Romana
Ponziani, Maria Assunta Zocco, Lucia Cerrito, Antonio Gasbarrini &
Maurizio Pompili,Journal,Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology,
Pages 641-656,Jun 2018
8.Zonulin upregulation is associated with increased gut permeability in
subjects with type 1 diabetes and their relatives,Sapone A, de Magistris L,
Pietzak M, Clemente MG,et al.,Diabetes. 2006 May;55(5):1443-9
9.Increased circulatory levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and zonulin
signify novel biomarkers of proinflammation in patients with type 2
diabetes,Jayashree B, Bibin YS, Prabhu D, Shanthirani CS, Gokulakrishnan K,
Lakshmi BS, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M., Mol Cell Biochem. 2014 Mar;388(1-2):203-10
10.Autoimmunity and the Gut, Andrew W. Campbell, Autoimmune Dis. 2014;
2014: 152428
11.Does the gut microbiota trigger Hashimoto's thyroiditis? Mori K,
Nakagawa Y, Ozaki H., Discov Med. 2012 Nov;14(78):321-6
12.Ultrastructural changes in enterocytes in subjects with Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis,Sasso FC, Carbonara O, Torella R et al.,Gut. 2004 Dec; 53(12):
1878–1880
13.Alterations of the intestinal barrier in patients with autism spectrum
disorders and in their first-degree relatives,de Magistris L, Familiari V,
Pascotto A, Sapone A, et. al,J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2010
Oct;51(4):418-24
14.Abnormal intestinal permeability in children with autism,
P D'Eufemia et al., ACTA Paediatrica, Vol. 85, Issue, 9, Sep. 1996, Page
1076-1079
15.The Innate Immune Receptors TLR2/4 Mediate Repeated Social Defeat
Stress-Induced Social Avoidance through Prefrontal Microglial Activation,
Xiang Nie,Shiho Kitaoka,Kohei Tanaka et al.,Neuron,Volume 99, ISSUE 3,
P464-479.e7, August 08, 2018
16.So depression is an inflammatory disease, but where does the
inflammation come from?, Berk M, Williams LJ, Jacka FN et al.,
BMC Medicine 2013 11:200
17. The gut-brain barrier in major depression: intestinal mucosal
dysfunction with an increased translocation of LPS from gram negative
enterobacteria (leaky gut) plays a role in the inflammatory
pathophysiology of depression,Maes M, Kubera M, Leunis JC.,
Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2008 Feb;29(1):117-24
18.The role of the microbiome in rheumatic diseases,Yeoh N, Burton JP,
Suppiah P, Reid G, Stebbings S.,Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013 Mar;15(3):314.
19.Increased gut permeability in juvenile chronic arthritides. A
multivariate analysis of the diagnostic parameters, Picco P, Gattorno M,
Marchese N, Vignola S, Sormani MP, Barabino A, Buoncompagni A.,
Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2000 Nov-Dec;18(6):773-8
20.Abnormal bowel permeability in ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid
arthritis,Smith MD, Gibson RA, Brooks PM.,J Rheumatol. 1985 Apr;12(2):299-
305.
21.Intestinal permeability and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis:
effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,Bjarnason I, Williams P,
So A, Zanelli GD, Levi AJ, Gumpel JM, Peters TJ, Ansell B.,
Lancet. 1984 Nov 24;2(8413):1171-4
22.Intestinal Permeability Biomarker Zonulin is Elevated in Healthy Aging,
Qi Y, Goel R, Kim S, Richards EM, Carter CS, Pepine CJ, Raizada MK, Buford
TW.,J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017 Sep 1;18(9):810.e1-810.e4.
23.A Case of Multiple Sclerosis and Celiac Disease,H. Z. Batur-Caglayan, C.
Irkec, I. Yildirim-Capraz, N. Atalay-Akyurek, and S. Dumlu,
Case Rep Neurol Med. 2013; 2013: 576921
24.Multiple sclerosis patients have peripheral blood CD45RO+ B cells and
increased intestinal permeability,Bruce Yacyshyn,Jon Meddings,
Daniel Sadowski,Mary Beth Bowen-Yacyshyn,
Digestive Diseases and Sciences, December 1996, Volume 41, Issue 12,pp
2493–2498
25.Microbial view of central nervous system autoimmunity, Berer K,
Krishnamoorthy G.,FEBS Lett. 2014 Nov 17;588(22):4207-13
26.Increased Intestinal Permeability Correlates with Sigmoid Mucosa alpha-
Synuclein Staining and Endotoxin Exposure Markers in Early Parkinson's
Disease, Christopher B. Forsyth, Kathleen M. Shannon, Jeffrey H. Kordower,
Robin M. Voigt, Maliha Shaikh, Jean A. Jaglin,Jacob D. Estes, Hemraj B.
Dodiya, and Ali Keshavarzian,PLoS One. 2011; 6(12): e28032
27.Intestinal Permeability in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis,
M. C. Buscarinu,S. Romano,R. Mechelli,R. Pizzolato Umeton,M. Ferraldeschi
A. Fornasiero,R. Reniè,B. Cerasoli,E. Morena,C. Romano,N. D. Loizzo,
R. Umeton,M. Salvetti,G. Ristori, Neurotherapeutics,January 2018, Volume
15, Issue 1,pp 68–74
28.Evidence of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin associated with
multiple sclerosis,Sariqa Wagley, Monika Bokori-Brown, Helen Morcrette et
al.,Multiple Sclerosis Journal, April 21, 2018
29.Bacterial toxin potential trigger for multiple sclerosis,
Source:American Society for Microbiology, Science Daily, January 28, 2014
30.Immunological abnormalities as potential biomarkers in Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis,Brenu EW, van Driel ML, Staines DR,
Ashton KJ, Ramos SB, Keane J, Klimas NG, Marshall-Gradisnik SM.,
J Transl Med. 2011 May 28;9:81
31.Increased serum IgA and IgM against LPS of enterobacteria in chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS): indication for the involvement of gram-negative
enterobacteria in the etiology of CFS and for the presence of an increased
gut-intestinal permeability,Maes M, Mihaylova I, Leunis JC. ,
J Affect Disord. 2007 Apr;99(1-3):237-40
32.Serum Zonulin and Endotoxin Levels in Exceptional Longevity versus
Precocious Myocardial Infarction,Pedro Carrera-Bastos, Óscar Picazo, Maelán
Fontes-Villalba, Helios Pareja-Galeano, Staffan Lindeberg, Manuel Martínez,
Selles, Alejandro Lucia, and Enzo Emanuele, Aging Dis. 2018 Apr; 9(2):
317–321.

Bikramjit Konwar

Author: Bikramjit Konwar

Share:

3 Responses

  1. A very important and relevant post. It appears that gut bacteria plays important role in many diseases. Question is leaky gut the cause or effect of any pathophysiology mentioned.

    1. Intestinal permeability appears as precursor, prior to many disorders, a causative factor as it is like opening the gate to the enemies, which is triggered by some other factors,dysbiosis or imbalance of gut bacteria is one factor, I am coming shortly with details with those

  2. Hi. Very interesting content but it’s hard to find holistichealthnlife.com in search results.
    You are out of google’s top ten, so you can’t expect big traffic.
    You need high quality backlinks to rank in serps.

    And you can get them for free, just search in google: forbesden’s tools

Reaching Goal in Life-Yoga of Freedom

Social Media

Most Popular

Get The Latest Updates

Subscribe To The Updates

No spam, notifications only about new products, updates.

Categories

On Key

Related Posts

%d bloggers like this: