This article is about a proposed medical condition in alternative medicine. For the phenomenon ("leaky gut") whereby the intestine wall exhibits excessive permeability, seeIntestinal permeability.
Stephen Barrett has described "leaky gut syndrome" as afad diagnosis and says that its proponents use the alleged condition as an opportunity to sell a number of alternative-health remedies – including diets, herbal preparations, and dietary supplements.[5] Promoters ofpseudoscience have claimed that the passage of proteins through a "leaky" gut is the cause of autism.[7] Evidence for claims that a leaky gut causes autism is weak and conflicting.[8]
Advocates tout various treatments for "leaky gut syndrome", such asdietary supplements,probiotics, herbal remedies,gluten-free foods, and low-FODMAP, low-sugar, and/or antifungal diets, but there is little evidence that the treatments offered are of benefit.[1]None have been adequately tested to determine whether they are safe and effective for this purpose.[4] The UKNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) does not recommend the use of any special diets to manage the main symptoms of autism or leaky gut syndrome.[1]
