Understand Leaky Gut Syndrome
31 March 2011
The function associated with our gastrointestinal tract is, the digestion and absorption of nutrients and electrolytes. But an in depth study of its structure reveals to us more important facts. First, that our gastrointestinal tract that is made up of small & large intestines have conjunctional areas called as Tight Junctions (TJs), where the membranes of two cells are so linked that they form a virtually impermeable barrier to certain fluids. TJs are functionally important constituent as they link the cells together, help prevent the diffusion of important proteins and promote active transport of molecules and ions between the cells. These epithelial cells are termed ‘Leaky’ or ‘Tight’ depending upon its capability to prevent water & solute movement. In most cases, disruption of the Tight Junctions leads to an anxiously permeable situation of the intestines and is termed in medical journals as the Leaky Gut Syndrome.