A closer look at choosing the right tests for common digestive conditions
Digestive conditions like Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are becoming increasingly common and can significantly affect quality of life for many sufferers. A frequently overlooked contributor or consequence of these issues is leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability. Gaining a deeper understanding of these digestive disorders, their symptoms, and the critical role of diagnostic testing is essential for effective treatment and improved overall health.
Common Digestive Conditions :
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is considered a broad-spectrum term that encompasses a range of gastrointestinal symptoms and varying patterns of bowel irregularities. It’s a functional gastrointestinal disorder, meaning it impacts how the gut function. IBS affects each person differently, and can be characterised by a combination of the following digestive symptoms:
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diarrhoea, constipation, or an alternating pattern of both
Digestive symptoms not only cause gastrointestinal issues but are also linked to a range of brain-related symptoms like anxiety, depression, and brain fog. These connections are primarily explained by the gut-brain axis—the communication network between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system (CNS). This network can be disrupted in IBS, causing physical symptoms that can impact mental health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being.
Interestingly research shows that up to 84% of cases of IBS are due to SIBO.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
SIBO is a condition where too much bacteria are present in the small intestines. Unlike the colon, which houses a high concentration of bacteria, the small intestine should contain far less. When an overgrowth occurs, digestive symptoms can include:
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Malabsorption of nutrients, leading to deficiencies, particularly in vitamins like B12 and minerals like iron
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) has far-reaching effects beyond the digestive system, influencing brain health in ways that can lead to cognitive issues, mood disturbances, and general mental fatigue. These effects occur due to the gut-brain axis as mentioned above.
SIBO, while primarily a digestive condition surprisingly it can lead to inflammatory and immune responses that often manifest on the skin. Conditions such as eczema, acne rosacea, and generalised skin inflammation are commonly reported by those with SIBO. This connection is explained by the gut-skin axis, which illustrates the dynamic relationship between gut health and skin appearance and function.
In addition research shows SIBO is connected to fibromyalgia, prostatitis (inflammation of the prostrate), cystitis, chronic fatigue and many more conditions.
Read more about SIBO here www.smartSIBOtest.com
Leaky Gut also known as Intestinal Permeability
In a healthy digestive system, the lining of the intestines forms a tight barrier that selectively allows nutrients and water to pass into the bloodstream while blocking harmful substances from entering. This barrier function is maintained by ‘tight junctions” between the cells lining the gut wall. These tight junctions open and close as needed to absorb nutrients while preventing toxins and bacteria from crossing into the body.
In leaky gut syndrome, or increased intestinal permeability, these tight junctions become loose, allowing larger molecules (like toxins, pathogens, and partially digested food particles) to “leak” through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. When this occurs, it can lead to immune activation and inflammation, as the body reacts to these foreign particles.
Read more about Leaky Gut here
How Leaky Gut Affects Digestive Health
Leaky gut can contribute to digestive issues in multiple ways:
- Chronic Inflammation: The presence of foreign particles in the bloodstream can trigger a continuous immune response, leading to chronic, low-grade inflammation. Over time, this can aggravate the digestive tract and potentially worsen conditions like IBS, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), and celiac disease.
- Nutrient Malabsorption: Damage to the gut lining can impair the absorption of essential nutrients, leading to deficiencies in vitamins (such as B12 and D), minerals (like magnesium and iron), and proteins. This malabsorption can further weaken the gut barrier and worsen digestive symptoms.
- Food Sensitivities and Intolerances: Leaky gut may increase sensitivity to certain foods. As larger, undigested food particles enter the bloodstream, the immune system may begin to recognise these as invaders, leading to food sensitivities or intolerances over time.
- Gut Microbiome Imbalance: A disrupted gut barrier often coincides with dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiome. This imbalance can contribute to overgrowths (such as SIBO or candida) or depletion of beneficial bacteria, further affecting digestive health and increasing inflammation.
Although leaky gut itself is not an official diagnosis, it’s linked to various condition. Leaky gut is frequently observed in people with IBS, IBD, and celiac disease. While it’s not clear whether leaky gut is a cause or effect of these conditions, the permeability of the gut wall seems to worsen symptoms. It is also associated with autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Evidence also links intestinal permeability to obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. This connection is thought to occur through systemic inflammation that impacts metabolic health.
The Importance of Digestive Testing
Clarity really is king – if you know what is out of balance and what is not working correctly you can make the appropriate steps to fix it. We say test don’t guess.
Role of Testing in Managing Digestive Conditions
Testing remains a central tool in managing IBS, SIBO and Leaky gut, helping to refine treatment approaches and adapt them as symptoms and responses evolve.
SIBO TEST: SIBO testing typically involves a hydrogen breath test, which measures the gases (hydrogen and methane) produced by bacteria in the small intestine. This non-invasive test can indicate the presence of bacterial overgrowth. Please see a link below to order your SIBO breath test:
Stool Tests:
A Digestive Stool Test provides a detailed assessment of digestive health, offering insights into the composition and balance of the gastrointestinal microbiome. Comprehensive stool tests evaluate beneficial, imbalanced, and potentially harmful bacteria, as well as identifying the presence of yeasts like Candida plus they check for parasites, and worms. Our range of comprehensive stool tests also examine key digestive functions such as fat absorption, protein digestion, pancreatic activity, intestinal inflammation, gut immunity, and metabolic processes.
We offer a range of digestive stool test We can just check the digetive microbiome, look for certain pathogens or check your whole digestive function. Check out our range of digestive test when searching the tests on the home page by category > Digestion. www.smartnutrition.co.uk
Intestinal Permeability Tests:
Please see two of our most popular leaky gut tests:
- The Advanced Intestinal Barrier Assessment is a great test to help understand what may be driving your leaky gut. This test looks at Zonulin, Histamine, Diamine oxidase (DAO) and the Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgA, IgG, IgM. We recommend this test if you are suspicious that histamine intolerance is contributing to your symptoms and health concerns.
2. The Cyrex Array 2 Intestinal Antigenic Permeability Screen™ is another popular test to assess leaky gut but this test looks at Actomyosin, Occludin/Zonulin (IgA, IgG, IgM) and Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgA, IgG, IgM. This helps detect damage to the gut lining by measuring immune reactions. It looks for antibodies against key proteins that hold the gut cells together, like occludin and zonulin, as well as proteins that support the gut’s structure and function. This test helps assess whether the intestinal barrier is working properly or has become too leaky.
Finally, if you are concerned about your health but unsure where to start, then we do have a team of fully qualified Functional Medicine Nutritional Therapists who can help you. Feel free to book a discovery call with one of the team and they can help choose the right test for you.
