Posted by JLx on October 16, 2004, at 16:17:02
In reply to Re: What'dya think of leaky gut syndrome?..Ray? » raybakes, posted by tealady on October 12, 2004, at 0:18:12
This is the best article I've read on Leaky Gut Syndrome. http://www.drkaslow.com/html/leaky_gut.html Dr. Kaslow apparently is a board certified internist and allergist.
"What started as a gut barrier problem can escalate into a problem of tissue toxicity. When the tissue environment is compromised microbes grow, lymphatics swell, symptoms of inflammation or deposition occur. Over a period of time, the muscles and joints ache, the brain gets a little foggy, the energy production and the body temperature drops, etc. The result can be conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue, genetic mutations and potentially cancer.
The immune system is also stressed. As toxins and foods contact the mucosa, the immune system is activated to neutralize them from entering the body. Normally, much of this work would have been done by beneficial bacteria. With leaky gut more toxins make it to the mucosa where they will be tagged with secretory IgA (sIgA), which attracts macrophages and other white blood cells to neutralize the toxins. Of course if there are too many toxins or undigested, this immune response is overwhelmed and not only do some toxins and allergens enter the body but the immune system is depleted.
A second stress on the immune system with a leaky gut is when the liver and lymphatic system become overwhelmed and as a result, the immune system serves as an overflow.
As more microbes (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) multiply in an unhealthy GI environment, the immune system is unable to keep the microbes in check. As a result opportunistic infections take advantage of a weakened immune system.
The most important organ in resistance to infection is the adrenal gland. Leaky Gut Syndrome slowly diminishes adrenal function. In the early and middle stages, there is actually an adrenal excess, as measured by excess cortisol output. Eventually, cortisol levels drop and exhaustion develops.
Confirming the Diagnosis: Laboratory tests can help confirm and gauge various aspects of Leaky Gut including Candida levels, digestive function, food allergies, etc. Many of the tests are expensive, inconclusive, and not always even accurate. It should be assumed that there are food allergies. If any food allergy is allowed to persist, the intestinal wall will remain inflamed and toxic absorption will continue. Before even considering testing, avoid dairy (cow’s milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream) and gluten grains (wheat, rye, oats, spelt, barley). Other relatively common food allergens include eggs; corn (including popcorn, corn syrup, corn oil); and beans (especially soy, lentil and kidney; soy includes tofu, miso, and tamari). Less commonly almonds, peanuts, and garlic are allergenic. Be careful of these ingredients in packaged foods or foods prepared in restaurants."
He didn't say if you can ever add those foods back in.
> >It's only recently I've worked on the immune system and found when I did, my liver improved as autoimmunity undermines the liver pathways and gut integrity. Used an immune formula called RM10 for a while which helps my liver, but it can overdrive my immune system if i take it for too long!
>
> Now that's what I was trying to explain to the doc!..like I know my gut is probably inflamed but I disagree as to why..like I think it's inflamed due to my high level of antibodies -autoimmunity..and perhaps I should work on my immune system?
> I also suspect my liver needs a lot of help too..after that many SSRI's ..esp. serzone (ended up with raised liver enzymes on that one, down now)
> I like the nac, selenium, glycine? idea and milk thistle too for liver ..so far that was as far as I got in looking at things. Haven't tried as yet.
>
> Oh yes, the chemist at the hospital reckoned my kidneys/thirst mechanism may be like that due to amitryptiptyline I took in 1990's ..cycling high doses for migraine during PMS time..didn't work either. (Only her opinion I guess, but maybe something to consider)
> In those days I didn't question docs' prescriptions.
>
> Jan
>
>
poster:JLx
thread:401487
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040928/msgs/403884.html