What Is Leaky Gut? Symptoms, Triggers, and Testing

25/06/2025Blogs

Introduction

If you’ve been dealing with chronic digestive issues, unexplained fatigue, or persistent skin flare-ups, the answer could lie in your gut. More specifically, your gut barrier. A growing body of research now links a wide range of health conditions to a phenomenon known as leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability.

Continue reading this article as we walk you through what leaky gut is, what symptoms to watch for, its root causes, and how testing options like the zonulin test can help bring clarity and guide effective treatment.

What Is Leaky Gut?

Leaky gut refers to a condition where the tight junctions in your intestinal lining become weakened or compromised. Normally, these tight junctions act like gatekeepers, allowing nutrients to pass into the bloodstream while keeping toxins, bacteria, and undigested food particles out.

When the gut barrier becomes more permeable than it should be, larger molecules that don’t belong in the bloodstream slip through. This can lead to systemic inflammation and immune overactivation, potentially triggering a cascade of chronic symptoms.

Though the medical term “leaky gut syndrome” is not universally recognized, the underlying concept of gut barrier dysfunction is increasingly acknowledged in clinical research, particularly through markers like zonulin.

Recent studies suggest that intestinal permeability plays a significant role in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, including IBD, celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes. Zonulin, in particular, has been identified as a biomarker and modulator of these tight junctions.

What Are the Symptoms of Leaky Gut?

Because the gut is connected to many systems in the body, symptoms of leaky gut can vary widely. Common signs include:

Digestive issues: 

• Bloating 
• Gas 
• Diarrhea or constipation 
• Food sensitivities

Skin concerns: 

• Eczema 
• Acne 
• Rosacea

Cognitive symptoms: 

• Brain fog 
• Trouble concentrating 
• Mood swings or anxiety

Immune dysregulation: 

• Frequent infections 
• Autoimmune flare-ups 
• Chronic fatigue

Some people also report joint pain, headaches, or hormonal imbalances. These wide-ranging effects highlight the systemic impact of an impaired gut lining.

What Causes Leaky Gut?

Several lifestyle and medical factors may weaken your gut lining over time. These include:

• Poor diet: High intake of refined carbs, sugar, alcohol, or processed foods
• Chronic stress: Alters gut-brain communication and digestive hormone balance
• Medications: NSAIDs and antibiotics can damage gut flora and barrier function
• Gut infections: Overgrowth of harmful bacteria or yeast
• Food intolerances: Reactions to gluten, dairy, soy, etc., that contribute to inflammation
• Autoimmune diseases: Such as Crohn’s, celiac, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

A combination of these triggers may gradually lead to chronic gut barrier disruption, especially when left unaddressed.

How Is Leaky Gut Diagnosed?

If you’re experiencing the above symptoms, diagnostic testing can help you move beyond guesswork. The most direct way to measure gut permeability is through the zonulin test.

Zonulin is a protein that regulates the opening and closing of tight junctions in the intestinal lining. Elevated zonulin levels in stool or blood suggest that the gut barrier may be compromised.

Other useful tests include:

• Calprotectin: Indicates intestinal inflammation (helps rule out IBD)
• Pancreatic elastase: Checks digestive enzyme levels for signs of malabsorption
• Lactoferrin: Helps assess immune activation in the gut
• Food Intolerance test: Identifies delayed food sensitivities
• SIBO breath test: Useful if symptoms point to bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine

Is Leaky Gut Medically Recognized?

While not always diagnosed as a standalone condition, intestinal permeability is well-studied and measured in immunology, gastroenterology, and functional medicine. It’s particularly relevant for patients with:

• IBD (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• IBS
• Celiac disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Type 1 diabetes

Zonulin, first discovered in relation to celiac disease, is now widely researched as a gatekeeper protein of the gut lining. As understanding grows, so does clinical interest in leaky gut’s impact on systemic health.

Leaky Gut and Its Connection to Other Conditions

Poor gut barrier function doesn’t just stay in the gut. It can impact several systems:

• Skin: Eczema and acne may improve after gut-focused treatment
• Mood: Gut dysbiosis may contribute to anxiety and depression
• Immunity: Unfiltered toxins entering the bloodstream can overstimulate the immune system, leading to chronic inflammation
• Hormonal health: Estrogen detoxification and thyroid function are affected by gut health

This wide reach is why improving gut integrity is a central part of many integrative treatment plans.

How to Heal Leaky Gut: Treatment Options

Healing a leaky gut requires a multi-layered approach:

1. Elimination Diets

   Identify and remove trigger foods using tools like FoodPrint IgG testing. Start with common irritants like gluten, dairy, soy, and processed sugars.

2. Repairing the Gut Barrier
   

   Supplements that may support healing include: 

• L-glutamine (fuel for gut cells) 
• Zinc carnosine (helps restore mucosal lining) 
• Quercetin (anti-inflammatory, tight junction support) 
• Omega-3 fatty acids (reduce systemic inflammation) 
• Probiotics and prebiotics (rebalance gut flora)

3. Stress Management
   

   Stress affects gut motility and permeability. Practices like breathwork, yoga, and therapy can be helpful in gut healing protocols.

4. Medical Guidance
   

   Work with a specialist to interpret test results and monitor inflammation markers like calprotectin and zonulin. Personalized plans are more effective than generic ones.

5. Lifestyle Adjustments
   

   Improved sleep hygiene, moderate exercise, and reduced exposure to environmental toxins also support gut healing.

When to Get Tested

You may benefit from gut testing if you: 

• Have unresolved GI symptoms 
• Experience unexplained skin or fatigue issues 
• Suspect food intolerances 
• Have a family history of autoimmune disease 
• Want to prevent chronic conditions by identifying early dysfunction

Testing gives you data to personalize your healing journey and track progress over time.

Final Thoughts

Leaky gut may be the missing link in understanding stubborn digestive or inflammatory symptoms. By measuring markers like zonulin, identifying food triggers, and supporting gut healing through diet and lifestyle changes, patients can finally make progress.

With better testing access across the UAE, addressing leaky gut is no longer guesswork. It’s science-driven, testable, and actionable.

If you’ve tried topical fixes, restrictive diets, or symptom-based treatments without long-term relief, start by looking at your gut. Your health may depend on it.