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 bloodstream in a form that the body cannot use, and 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, causing food sensitivities and candida infections. 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.

The Cyrex Array 2 Intestinal Antigenic Permeability Screen™ identifies an immune response indicating damage to the intestinal mucosal microstructures, including the epithelial cell network and the intercellular tight junctions. Measuring the continuity of the intestinal barrier is accomplished by identifying antibodies against the tight junction proteins (occludin and zonulin) and antibodies to the actomyosin network (a protein complex that regulates intestinal barrier function by maintaining the plasticity of tight junctions).