Korean J Fam Pract 2020; 10(5): 316-323  https://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2020.10.5.316
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Kyu-Nam Kim*, Kwang-Min Kim
Department of Family Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
Kyu-Nam Kim
Tel: +82-31-219-5309, Fax: +82-31-219-5218
E-mail: ktwonm@hanmail.net
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1213-5004
Received: April 17, 2020; Revised: May 20, 2020; Accepted: May 20, 2020; Published online: October 20, 2020.
© The Korean Academy of Family Medicine. All rights reserved.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Increased intestinal permeability, termed leaky gut syndrome (LGS), plays an important role in health and disease. LGS creates gaps in the intestinal walls that allow harmful bacteria and toxic substances to enter the bloodstream. Several researchers have found significant evidence to support the existence of a leaky gut. Emerging evidence also indicates that leaky gut contributes to a range of health conditions. LGS is closely associated with autoimmune diseases, liver conditions, diabetes, food allergies/hypersensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, and autism. Therefore, LGS should be considered as a factor in the pathophysiology and differential diagnosis of patients presenting with autoimmune diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, autism, food allergies, and food hypersensitivity. However, since there has not yet been a large-scale study regarding the causality between LGS and these diseases, further research is required to determine if LGS plays a pathogenic role in the progression and development of these diseases or whether these diseases lead to LGS. The 5R program, which includes non-absorbing antibiotic use, probiotic supplementation, exercising regularly, and certain dietary and lifestyle changes, may help restore impaired intestinal permeability.
Keywords: Leaky Gut Syndrome; Increased Intestinal Permeability; Gut Dysbiosis; Rifaximin; Probiotic
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