Leaky Gut (Increased Intestinal Permeability)

Leaky Gut: Can the Root Cause Be Treated?

Key takeaways

• “Leaky gut” is a functional-medicine term for increased intestinal permeability; it describes a mechanism, not a formal medical diagnosis with its own ICD-10 code.
• The intestinal lining is meant to be selectively permeable — when the junctions between cells loosen, larger particles can pass through and provoke the immune system.
• Common root drivers include an imbalanced microbiome, environmental toxins such as glyphosate, chronic infections, medications, and food sensitivities.
• Increased permeability is studied as a contributor to autoimmune conditions and to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), though research is still evolving.
• A root-cause approach aims to remove the triggers and support the gut barrier rather than only masking digestive symptoms.

What is leaky gut?

Leaky gut is a functional-medicine term for increased intestinal permeability, and addressing its root cause means looking past symptoms to why the tight junctions that normally seal the intestinal lining have loosened — allowing partially digested food, bacterial fragments, and toxins to cross into the bloodstream. It is a described mechanism rather than a formal, coded diagnosis, and it is studied for its possible role in immune activation and chronic inflammation. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), this barrier normally regulates what the body absorbs from the gut.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the lining of the digestive tract works as a selective barrier that controls what passes from the gut into the rest of the body — the same barrier a functional-medicine model describes as becoming “leaky.” NIDDK: Your Digestive System & How It Works →

What are the symptoms associated with leaky gut?

Because the gut interacts with the immune system and the rest of the body, the symptoms people associate with increased permeability are wide-ranging and often overlap with other conditions:

• Bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort
• Loose stools or constipation (IBS-type patterns)
• Food sensitivities and reactions to foods once tolerated
• Fatigue and low energy
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
• Skin issues such as eczema or rashes
• Joint aches
• Frequent or worsening seasonal and food allergies

What causes leaky gut — and why standard care can miss the deeper drivers

Conventional evaluation often focuses on ruling out specific diseases and, when tests come back “normal,” may label the picture as IBS and manage symptoms with diet advice or medication. That can bring relief, but it does not always answer the deeper question: why did the gut barrier become more permeable in the first place? In a functional and environmental medicine model, the common drivers are an imbalanced microbiome (dysbiosis), environmental toxins such as glyphosate and other chemicals, chronic infections, certain medications, chronic stress, and food sensitivities — any of which may loosen the tight junctions that seal the gut barrier. Research from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences examines how environmental exposures interact with the gut microbiome and health, and the NIEHS pesticides program studies agents such as glyphosate. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the gut microbiome and interventions such as probiotics remain an active area of research. When those underlying triggers go unaddressed, digestive and whole-body symptoms often persist or return.

How Deeper Healing approaches leaky gut

Deeper Healing takes a root-cause approach built on detailed intake and comprehensive testing rather than symptom labels alone. Dr. Bauerschmidt and our team look for the specific microbiome imbalances, toxin exposures, infections, and food triggers that may be undermining the gut barrier, then address them in a deliberate order using environmental medicine, light and oxygen therapies, and targeted detoxification, dietary, and gut-support strategies. The aim is to remove what is irritating the gut lining and give the barrier the conditions it needs to recover, so patients can regain digestive comfort and energy.

Conventional care vs a root-cause approach

Conventional digestive care	Deeper Healing root-cause approach
Rules out specific diseases; often labels the rest “IBS”	Looks for why the gut barrier became more permeable
Manages symptoms with diet advice or medication	Identifies and removes the underlying triggers
Rarely evaluates the microbiome or toxin load	Assesses dysbiosis, toxins such as glyphosate, infections, and food sensitivities
Gut symptoms often persist or recur	Aims to repair the barrier and support lasting gut health

Key terms explained

Intestinal permeability

The degree to which the intestinal lining allows substances to pass into the body. The gut is normally selectively permeable; “increased permeability” is the clinical term behind “leaky gut.”

Tight junctions

Protein connections that seal the gaps between the cells lining the gut. When they loosen, larger particles can slip between cells rather than being carefully regulated.

Zonulin

A protein that helps regulate how tightly the intestinal tight junctions are held together; it is studied as one signal involved in changes to gut-barrier permeability.

Mucosal barrier

The layered lining of mucus, cells, and immune tissue that protects the gut wall and forms the interface between what is in the intestine and the bloodstream.

Microbiome (dysbiosis)

The community of bacteria and other microbes living in the gut. “Dysbiosis” is an imbalance in that community that can affect the gut lining and immune function.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS / endotoxin)

A component of some gut bacteria that, if it crosses a more permeable barrier, is studied as a trigger of immune activation and low-grade inflammation.

Glyphosate

A widely used herbicide studied as an environmental exposure; in a functional-medicine model it is considered a possible disruptor of the microbiome and gut barrier.

Patient experience

Many patients arrive frustrated after being told their digestive tests are “normal” while bloating, food reactions, and fatigue continue. Read how a root-cause approach can uncover what standard testing misses: Deeper Healing patient stories →

Frequently asked questions

Is leaky gut a real medical condition?

“Leaky gut” is a functional-medicine term for increased intestinal permeability, which is a measurable, well-documented phenomenon. It is not yet a formal, separately coded diagnosis, and its role in disease is still being researched. We use it to describe a mechanism, and we focus on the specific, testable triggers that may be affecting your gut barrier.

Can leaky gut be improved or reversed?

Many people see meaningful improvement when the underlying drivers are identified and removed and the gut is given the right support. Because the intestinal lining renews itself continually, reducing triggers such as dysbiosis, toxins, and food sensitivities aims to help the barrier recover. Results vary from person to person, so we set realistic, individualized goals.

What is the root cause of leaky gut?

There is rarely a single cause. Increased permeability usually reflects several overlapping stressors — an imbalanced microbiome, environmental toxins such as glyphosate, chronic infections, certain medications, ongoing stress, and food sensitivities. Our work focuses on finding which of these drivers apply to you so treatment targets the actual source rather than only the symptoms.

What tests are used to evaluate leaky gut?

Evaluation is individualized and may include stool and microbiome analysis, assessment of food sensitivities, screening for chronic infections, and review of toxin exposures — including mold (mycotoxins), heavy metals, and chemicals such as glyphosate — alongside a careful history. No single test defines “leaky gut,” so we combine findings to build a picture of what is stressing your gut barrier and immune system.

Is leaky gut related to autoimmune disease?

Increased intestinal permeability is actively studied as a possible contributor to autoimmune conditions, because a more porous barrier can allow more immune activation. The relationship is still being clarified in research and is not proven to cause any specific disease. We address gut-barrier health as one part of a broader, whole-person approach.

Is leaky gut the same as IBS?

No. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a diagnosed disorder of gut function, while “leaky gut” describes a barrier mechanism. They can overlap — some people with IBS-type symptoms also have increased permeability — but they are not the same thing. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, IBS is a common functional disorder; we look beyond the label to the specific drivers behind your symptoms.

Can toxins like glyphosate cause leaky gut?

Environmental toxins are studied as possible disruptors of the microbiome and gut lining, and glyphosate is one exposure of interest in functional and environmental medicine. The science is still developing, so we do not claim a single toxin causes leaky gut; instead we assess your overall exposure and body burden as part of the picture.

Where can I find a root-cause gut-health doctor near me?

Deeper Healing Medical Wellness Center is located at 234 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 110, Charleston, SC 29492, on Daniel Island. We see patients from across the country who travel to us for root-cause care after standard digestive workups have fallen short.

Your next step: find out what’s driving it

Because environmental toxins and body burden so often sit alongside gut-barrier problems, a useful first step is understanding your own toxic load. Our free two-minute assessment helps you gauge whether accumulated toxins could be contributing to your digestive and whole-body symptoms — and what to do next.

Sources

• National Institutes of Health, NIDDK — Your Digestive System & How It Works
• National Institutes of Health, NIDDK — Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences — Microbiome Research
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences — Pesticides
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health — Probiotics: What You Need to Know