Intestinal permeability

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Intestinal permeability is the phenomenon of the gut wall exhibiting permeability.[1] It is a normal function of the intestine to exhibit some permeability, but to maintain a barrier function whereby potentially harmful functions are prevented from leaving the intestine and migrating to the body more widely.[2] In a healthy human intestine small particles (< 4 Å in radius) can migrate through tight junction pores.[3]

In mainstream medicine people with certain gut-related conditions may need treatment to reduce the inflammation of their bowel lining. In alternative medicine a proposed medical condition, called leaky gut syndrome, has been popularized in which it is thought that restoring normal functioning of the gut wall can cure systematic health conditions.[1]

It is accepted that various factors can affect the bowel's permeability, but the likely result of this is limited to temporary, mild, local inflammation. In extreme cases the result can be ulcers in the bowel lining.[4] People with certain gut-related conditions such as Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease may need treatment to reduce inflammation and maintain the health of their "leaky bowel".[4]

Select enteric viruses, bacterial pathogens, and parasites modulate intestinal tight junction structure and function, and these effects may contribute to the development of chronic intestinal disorders.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Odenwald MA, Turner JR (September 2013). "Intestinal permeability defects: is it time to treat?". Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 11 (9): 1075–83. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2013.07.001. PMID 23851019. 
  2. ↑ M. Campieri; C. Fiocchi; S.B. Hanauer (31 March 2002). Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Clinical Case Approach to Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Springer. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-7923-8772-5. 
  3. ↑ Thoma YM, Anderson JM, Turner JR (2012). "Tight Junctions and the Intestinal Barrier". In Johnson LR, et al. Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract 1 (Academic Press). pp. 1043–. ISBN 978-0-12-382027-3. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Leaky gut syndrome". NHS Choices. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013. 
  5. ↑ Sciences, Department of Biological (2008). "Mechanisms of intestinal tight junctional disruption during infection". Frontiers in Bioscience (13): 7008. doi:10.2741/3206. 


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