Uncovering the burden of leaky gut

Increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, has gained prominence in recent years, thanks to the abundant amount of evidence linking the integrity of the intestinal wall to health and disease.

Leaky gut occurs when the proteins connecting the cells of the small intestine becomes compromised, allowing bacteria and other foreign anti-gens to stimulate the immune system, change the microbiome and increase inflammation.

Unfortunately, patient experiences of leaky gut are not well-known. 

Researchers from the Australian Research Collective in Complementary and Integrative Medicine are hoping to shed light on what it’s like to live with this condition.

PhD Candidate, Bradley Leech, is at the forefront of this research. After surveying almost 600 Australians with suspected leaky gut, Bradley has uncovered the physical, emotional and financial consequences of living with leaky gut.  

Our study revealed leaky gut may pose a greater health burden than previously thought, with poor subjective wellbeing and health-related quality of life found in people with leaky gut, highlighting the clinical relevance and consequence of this condition.

Even more alarming, Bradley says, is the out-of-pocket cost associated with leaky gut.

“Over the previous 12 months, participants spent almost $700 on consultation fees, $287 on the diagnostic test and over $2000 on dietary supplements for the management of leaky gut.”

“These results suggest a financial burden for people with suspected leaky gut, even greater for those who find it difficult to live on their available household income,” he says.

The research has also found that many participants experienced a significant delay between first suspecting leaky gut to receiving a diagnosis.

We estimate Australian adults with suspected leaky gut spend over 11 years between first suspecting leaky gut and receiving a formal diagnosis.

Bradley hopes that this research will provide a greater understanding of Australian adults with suspected leaky gut.

“This study contributes to my PhD research where I am developing a Clinical Practice Guideline for the assessment and management of increased intestinal permeability, also known as the IP Guideline [opens external site],” he says. 

“The IP Guideline [opens external site] serves as the first guideline for leaky gut, as no guideline surrounding any part of the assessment or management of leaky gut has been developed in Australia or internationally.”

Find out more about Bradley’s research: Risk factors associated with intestinal permeability in an adult population: A systematic review [opens external site]

Find out more about the IP Guideline [opens external site]