Intestinal Hyperpermeability

Authored by Chris McDermott, APRN, practicing with autonomous authority in Florida | Intercoastal Health, Florida

Introduction

Gut health plays a foundational role in overall wellness, yet it’s often overlooked in conventional care models. One emerging area of interest is intestinal hyperpermeability, more commonly known as leaky gut syndrome. In functional medicine, this condition is regarded not as a diagnosis itself, but as a sign of underlying dysfunction involving the intestinal barrier.

At Intercoastal Health, we approach intestinal hyperpermeability with a comprehensive, root-cause lens. By combining advanced diagnostics with personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies, we help patients restore gut integrity and prevent chronic disease progression.

What Is Intestinal Hyperpermeability?

The small intestine is designed to be selectively permeable—it absorbs nutrients while keeping pathogens and toxins out of the bloodstream. This is regulated by a tight epithelial barrier lined with cells joined together by tight junction proteins.

In intestinal hyperpermeability, that barrier becomes compromised. Molecules that normally wouldn’t enter the bloodstream—such as undigested food particles, microbial toxins, and inflammatory agents—can now “leak” into circulation. This triggers systemic immune responses, inflammation, and even autoimmune activation.

Functional medicine views this as a warning signal that deeper physiological imbalances must be identified and corrected.

Signs and Symptoms

Intestinal hyperpermeability often goes unrecognized in its early stages, as symptoms may be vague or mimic other conditions. Common presentations include:

• Digestive symptoms: bloating, gas, cramping, loose stools
  
• Food sensitivities
  
• Fatigue and brain fog
  
• Skin conditions (acne, eczema, rosacea)
  
• Autoimmune flare-ups, such as rheumatoid arthritis
  
• Mood disorders (depression, anxiety)
  
• Nutritional deficiencies (iron, B12, magnesium)
  
  

Additional manifestations may include asthma, migraines, chronic sinusitis, and fibromyalgia.

How We Diagnose It

At Intercoastal Health, our functional evaluation for intestinal hyperpermeability combines subjective symptoms with objective biomarker data.

Diagnostic Tools:

• Comprehensive Health History
  
• Intestinal Permeability Tests
  
  • Lactulose/Mannitol test
    
  • Zonulin testing
    
• Stool Analysis
  
  • Microbiome profiling
    
  • Calprotectin (inflammatory marker)
    
  • Secretory IgA
    
• Food Sensitivity Testing
  
• Additional biomarkers assessing nutrient absorption and inflammatory status
  
  

Common Causes

Factors Contributing to Barrier Breakdown:

• Poor diet (sugar, alcohol, processed foods)
  
• Dysbiosis
  
• Chronic inflammation and infections
  
• H. pylori and candida
  
• Medications (NSAIDs, antibiotics, PPIs)
  
• Heavy metal exposure
  
• Enzyme deficiencies and secretory IgA deficiency
  
• Celiac disease
  
  

Clinical Implications and Associated Conditions

Unchecked intestinal hyperpermeability can contribute to:

• Autoimmune disease (e.g., lupus, Hashimoto’s)
  
• Neurological symptoms
  
• Nutrient malabsorption and anemia
  
• Mood disorders and neuroinflammation
  
• Skin disorders and allergic responses
  
• Chronic migraine and fibromyalgia
  
  

Functional Laboratory Biomarkers

Interfering Factors and Drug Influences

Factors Altering Lab Results:

• High-fat meals pre-test
  
• Menstrual cycle phase
  
• Recent infections or antibiotic use
  
• Delayed sample collection
  
  

Drugs Increasing Gut Permeability:

• NSAIDs
  
• Corticosteroids
  
• Chemotherapy
  
• Proton Pump Inhibitors
  
• Antibiotics
  
  

Supportive Agents:

• Probiotics
  
• Glutamine, zinc-based supplements
  
• Certain IBD therapies
  
  

Functional Treatment Approach at Intercoastal Health

Our proven “4R” functional gut restoration framework:

1. Remove

• Inflammatory foods (gluten, dairy, sugars)
  
• Infections (candida, parasites)
  

2. Replace

• Digestive enzymes
  
• Gastric acid support if deficient
  

3. Reinoculate

• Strain-specific probiotics
  
• Prebiotics (fiber)
  

4. Repair

• L-glutamine, zinc carnosine
  
• Aloe vera extract, omega-3 fatty acids
  
• Vitamin D
  
  

Plus: Addressing stress, sleep hygiene, and detoxification support.

A Whole-Body Healing Strategy

The intestinal barrier is a critical regulator of immune, metabolic, and neurological health. At Intercoastal Health, we recognize the gut as a keystone organ for whole-body wellness. By identifying biomarkers of hyperpermeability and correcting underlying dysfunction, we empower patients to achieve lasting vitality.