You’ve probably heard the term “leaky gut,” but what’s actually happening inside? The lining of your small intestine is only one cell thick — held together by tight junctions. When these junctions loosen, larger particles (undigested food proteins, bacterial fragments like LPS, toxins) can pass into the bloodstream. This triggers low-grade systemic inflammation and immune activation.
One of the key markers we look at is zonulin — the protein that directly regulates how open or closed those tight junctions are. Elevated zonulin is one of the best indicators of increased intestinal permeability.
Important Biomarkers to consider with “leaky gut”
Fecal zonulin levels
Secretory IgA (your gut’s immune defense)
Anti-LPS antibodies (showing if bacterial toxins are leaking)
Calprotectin and other inflammatory markers
Common signs that leaky gut may be playing a role:
Chronic bloating, gas, or irregular bowels
Food sensitivities that seem to keep expanding
Brain fog, anxiety, or mood changes
Joint pain or skin issues (eczema, acne, rosacea)
Autoimmune flares or fatigue
Difficulty losing weight despite effort
The beauty of testing is that we don’t have to guess. We can see exactly how permeable the gut is, what’s causing the damage (dysbiosis, pathogens, low SCFAs, etc.), and then rebuild the barrier with targeted support. These include specific fibers, glutamine, zinc, quercetin, polyphenols, and strain-specific probiotics when appropriate.
Healing leaky gut often becomes the foundation that improves energy, mood, skin, and immunity downstream. This is root-cause work in action.
If you’ve been dealing with ongoing digestive or systemic symptoms and want real answers instead of band-aid approaches, ask your doctor about these markers.
