It’s Not Just About Infections: You Need to Look at Gut Function!
We know that our digestive system's primary job is to break down and absorb the food we eat to extract nutrients and energy to keep us alive. However, the health of our digestive system is important for so much more and is genuinely involved in almost every other facet of our health.
The Key to Health Is a Healthy Gut
Our digestive system contains trillions of microbes that outnumber human cells 10 to 1. Research shows that gut health and the balance of our gut microbes play a pivotal role in immunity, mental health, metabolic conditions, and more. (3)
Understanding how well your digestive system is functioning can be assessed through advanced laboratory testing. Our preferred test of gut health is the GI-MAP test by Diagnostic Solutions Lab. You can learn about this test and how it compares to other gut testing options in this blog.
Beyond testing for a number of pathogens, including E. coli, H. pylori, Candida, and parasites, the GI-MAP tests for specific markers that indicate other vital aspects of how your gut is functioning.
The "intestinal health markers" section is my favorite part of the test, and that is the part that I am going to detail today. It reveals leaky gut, toxin recirculation, sensitivity to gluten, immune response, and more.
You can see everything the GI-MAP covers in this example report, but in this article, we will focus on four important markers of gut health.
Marker Number One: The Zonulin Test
What Is Zonulin?
Our intestinal tracts are only one cell thick, and the cells are held together with tight junctions.
To absorb food, the intestinal lining must be permeable to allow tiny, broken-down food molecules to enter our bodies. However, our intestinal lining also serves as a protective barrier between the contents of our digestive tracts -- such as large food particles, bacteria, yeast, and fungi -- and the rest of our bodies. (11)
The protein Zonulin functions as the gate-keeper between the inside of our intestines and the rest of the body. Zonulin manages our tight junctions - the spaces between our intestinal cells. (4)
When our digestive tracts are functioning properly, these tight junctions are maintained, and large food particles, microbes, and toxins do not pass through -- only tiny, digested food particles.
What Do Zonulin Levels Reveal?
The condition 'leaky gut' refers to a breach in the intestinal tight junctions, and the Zolulin marker in the GI-MAP test is indicative of this.
Research suggests that leaky gut, as indicated by increased Zonulin levels, may lead to autoimmune conditions, and inflammatory conditions (4). For instance, we often see elevated levels of Zonulin in Type 1 Diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, and Celiac's disease. (4, 11). This is because particles that should not enter the inside of the body and the bloodstream, do, and cause an inflammatory immune reaction.
There is a strong link between inflammatory cytokines and Zonulin. Clinical studies have found that Zonulin levels correlate with the number of inflammatory cytokines a person has. (10) Also, since leaky gut may allow bacteria and their toxins to enter the blood, this may lead to 'leaky-brain.' This happens when the toxins and bacteria from the gut damage the protective blood-brain-barrier. (9)
What Causes Increased Zonulin Levels?
We see increased Zonulin levels from both bacterial infections (dysbiosis), and gluten/gliadin exposure. (4, 11) Medical researchers believe that certain factors can alter the microbiome, which then triggers increased Zonulin levels. For instance, the overuse of antibiotics is one of these disruptive factors, as well as pesticide exposure and chemicals found in our food system . (11)
Testing for Zonulin
Currently, a Zonulin test for leaky gut is the only known measure of intestinal permeability. If you struggle with an inflammatory health condition, autoimmunity, or your healthcare provider has suggested you may have leaky gut, you may want to assess your Zonulin levels.
With the GI MAP test, the Zonulin test is already included in the test price.
Marker Number Two: Beta-Glucuronidase
What Is Beta-Glucuronidase?
The GI MAP test includes a test for an enzyme in the digestive tract: beta-glucuronidase. This enzyme helps to break down complex carbohydrates.
What Do Beta-Glucuronidase Levels Reveal?
Our body has a natural system to flush toxins and excess hormones like estrogen. This process occurs mostly in the liver and involves converting the toxins and hormones to a form the body can excrete. This requires two reactions to occur: conjugation and glucuronidation. (8)
As part of the liver’s detox process, it gathers the toxins and make little “packages” of toxins that are easier for your body to excrete.
Unfortunately, beta-glucuronidase can break apart the bonds of these small packages of toxins, scattering the toxins once more and allowing your body to reabsorb the waste it was attempting to rid itself of. Due to this, high levels of beta-glucuronidase can cause an imbalance of estrogen metabolism and lead to high estrogen levels. (5)
In essence, excess beta-glucuronidase levels impair our ability to detoxify.
What Causes Too Much Beta-Glucuronidase?
High levels of beta-glucuronidase can occur for a few different reasons, including dysbiosis and pesticide exposure.
Research shows that high levels of certain bacteria such as E. coli and several types of Clostridia can lead to increased levels of beta-glucuronidase. (8) Therefore, the key to lowering beta-glucuronidase levels often includes correcting microbiome imbalances and restoring proper levels of healthy bacteria.
Another factor which causes an increase in beta-glucuronidase is organophosphate exposure. Research shows that this health-disrupting pesticide alters the amount of beta-glucuronidase in the digestive tract. The first step in correcting this issue is preventing further exposure to organophosphates. (13)
Testing for Beta-Glucuronidase
We love that the GI Map test includes beta-glucuronidase, as it provides excellent insight into not only gut function but how gut function interacts with other health aspects, including hormone metabolism and detoxification.
Marker Number Three: Secretory IgA
What Is Secretory IgA?
Secretory IgA (SIgA) is our body's first line of defense. It is a component of the immune system which creates a barrier on various mucous membranes such as the digestive tract and respiratory tract. It serves an essential purpose in protecting us from microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi as well as any toxins they produce. (7).
What Do Secretory IgA Levels Reveal?
Our levels of SIgA immune cells give us insight into how our immune system is functioning. For instance, if the body is feeling threatened, it begins to overproduce SIgA, or if a person is experiencing an immune deficiency, they will have lower levels of SIgA. (7)
The GI MAP test looks at fecal levels of SIgA, as both high and low levels of SIgA can be an issue.
When levels are high, it may indicate that the body is fighting off an infection or it is trying to protect the body from an imbalance of microbes. Its job is to trap microbes and their toxins in mucus and prevent them from reaching the cells of the intestines. (7) This is important because if microbes and toxins reach the intestinal cells, they can damage them, leading to gut irritation, inflammation, and potentially leaky gut.
Low levels of SIgA have been linked to allergies, asthma, and autoimmunity. (12) There are a few things that may cause low SIgA, including a genetic SIgA deficiency, dysbiosis, and too much stress. (2)
SIgA levels give us great insight into whether our digestive systems are fighting off microbes, or if our immune systems are depleted.
What Causes Imbalanced Secretory IgG Levels?
The key to optimizing SIgA levels includes a few factors. For example, stress management, maintaining a healthy microbiome which involves eating fiber to feeds good bacteria and ensuring you are getting enough nutrients that the immune system needs, such as zinc.
Marker Number Four: Anti-Gliadin Antibody
What Is the Anti-Gliadin Antibody?
Gluten is notorious for causing gut inflammation. For some people, their immune systems are reactive to gluten, and it triggers an autoimmune response. This is known as celiac disease. For people with celiac disease, eating gluten causes the immune system to begin attacking their intestinal lining, which leads to inflammation as well as issues absorbing nutrients properly.
However, a person does not have to have celiac disease to be sensitive to gluten. For some people, gluten does not trigger an autoimmune disease, but can still cause them to experience symptoms such as digestive issues, fatigue, brain fog, and skin rashes. (1)
The anti-gliadin antibody, which the GI MAP tests for, shows if a person is sensitive to gluten or not. Gliadin is a component of the protein gluten and is one of our best markers for gluten sensitivity as well as celiac's disease. (1)
How to Properly Test for the Anti-Gliadin Antibody
When people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity stop eating gluten, their anti-gliadin levels will return to normal. This is an important piece to consider because if you are already following a strict gluten-free diet, your anti-gliadin test may appear normal even if you are sensitive to gluten.
For people with Celiac's disease or people who are sensitive to gluten, eating a gluten-free diet, including pesky hidden sources of gluten that can be in the lining of tea bags, toothpaste, and food products processed in a factory that also processes gluten-containing foods, is necessary.
The GI-MAP test includes a gluten sensitivity test to help people identify if gluten is causing their immune systems to overreact.
Our Final Thoughts
We cannot overemphasize the importance of gut health. Knowing how your gut is functioning is the first step in correcting imbalances and restoring health.
The GI-MAP test by Diagnostic Solutions Lab tests for several specific markers which give you great insight into how your gut is functioning. This is one of the best gut health tests as it goes well beyond most GI testing which is why we love it, and think you will too.
As always, we offer free shipping within the US on all orders $97 or more.
Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and FunctionalDetoxProducts.com.
Check out her easy 5-Day DIY Detox Guide here!