Intestinal permeability, leaky gut, and intestinal disorders
- PMID: 10980980
- DOI: 10.1007/s11894-999-0023-5
Intestinal permeability, leaky gut, and intestinal disorders
Abstract
A major task of the intestine is to form a defensive barrier to prevent absorption of damaging substances from the external environment. This protective function of the intestinal mucosa is called permeability. Clinicians can use inert, nonmetabolized sugars such as mannitol, rhamnose, or lactulose to measure the permeability barrier or the degree of leakiness of the intestinal mucosa. Ample evidence indicates that permeability is increased in most patients with Crohn's disease and in 10% to 20% of their clinically healthy relatives. The abnormal leakiness of the mucosa in Crohn's patients and their relatives can be greatly amplified by aspirin preadministration. Permeability measurements in Crohn's patients reflect the activity, extent, and distribution of the disease and may allow us to predict the likelihood of recurrence after surgery or medically induced remission. Permeability is also increased in celiac disease and by trauma, burns, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The major determinant of the rate of intestinal permeability is the opening or closure of the tight junctions between enterocytes in the paracellular space. As we broaden our understanding of the mechanisms and agents that control the degree of leakiness of the tight junctions, we will be increasingly able to use permeability measurements to study the etiology and pathogenesis of various disorders and to design or monitor therapies for their management.
Similar articles
-
Gut permeability to lactulose and mannitol differs in treated Crohn's disease and celiac disease patients and healthy subjects.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2008 Dec;41(12):1105-9. doi: 10.1590/s0100-879x2008001200010. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2008. PMID: 19148373
-
Increased intestinal permeability and NOD2 variants in familial and sporadic Crohn's disease.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2006 May 15;23(10):1455-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02916.x. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2006. PMID: 16669960
-
Intestinal permeability in patients with Crohn's disease and their first degree relatives.Gut. 1992 Mar;33(3):320-3. doi: 10.1136/gut.33.3.320. Gut. 1992. PMID: 1568650 Free PMC article.
-
Intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction in Crohn's disease.Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1997 Apr;214(4):318-27. doi: 10.3181/00379727-214-44099. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1997. PMID: 9111522 Review.
-
Intestinal permeability.Gut. 1994 Jan;35(1 Suppl):S18-22. doi: 10.1136/gut.35.1_suppl.s18. Gut. 1994. PMID: 8125384 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Relationship between Markers of Gut Barrier Function and Erythrocyte Membrane PUFAs in Diarrhea-Predominant IBS Patients Undergoing a Low-FODMAP Diet.Nutrients. 2024 Aug 14;16(16):2706. doi: 10.3390/nu16162706. Nutrients. 2024. PMID: 39203842 Free PMC article.
-
Breaking Barriers in Functional Dyspepsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on Duodenal Tight Junction Protein Expression.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024 Jul 30;30(3):281-289. doi: 10.5056/jnm24013. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024. PMID: 38972865 Free PMC article.
-
Molecular Mechanisms of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, LGG® Probiotic Function.Microorganisms. 2024 Apr 14;12(4):794. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12040794. Microorganisms. 2024. PMID: 38674738 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Biomarkers in IBD: What to Utilize for the Diagnosis?Diagnostics (Basel). 2023 Sep 13;13(18):2931. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13182931. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023. PMID: 37761298 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Microfluidic organotypic device to test intestinal mucosal barrier permeability ex vivo.Lab Chip. 2023 Sep 13;23(18):4126-4133. doi: 10.1039/d3lc00615h. Lab Chip. 2023. PMID: 37655621 Free PMC article.
References
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Other Literature Sources
Medical
Research Materials