Recently, a Jinek broadcast focused on the dangers of self-testing and one topic that was subsequently highlighted was 'the leaky gut' or 'increased intestinal permeability'.
Radar laughs about leaky gut
This was highly laughed at by the panel consisting of Radar contributors Antoinette Hertzenberg and Fons Hendriks supplemented by doctor Irene van der Vorst for so-called medical and scientific back-up. 'The leaky gut' (discussed from 27.03 min in this link) in this regard would typically be something for influencers and naturopaths to attribute all kinds of vague complaints to and then come up with a fake diagnosis. According to the doctor, increased intestinal permeability would only occur in Crohn's disease and other intestinal diseases, and otherwise it would be a nonsensical and useless diagnosis. I myself have followed and studied this subject for many years and then I can only be appalled by these statements. Why don't many doctors and 'science journalists' check the current state of scientific literature?
Plenty of research into it
If you take the trouble to enter search terms around increased intestinal permeability into pubmed or medline, you will find a wealth of interesting studies in this area and find out how relevant this topic is currently, but certainly also in the future. In a nice 2020 review article by Schoultz and Keita elaborates the principle of increased intestinal permeability (para-cellular and trans-cellular) and describes the various test markers that could provide some more information on this. In addition, associations can be found with all kinds of complaints and diseases that do not express themselves directly at the gut level (such as intestinal diseases). For instance, the possible links with obesity, diabetes, Parkinson's, autism, depression are at least worth further investigation, in addition to taking seriously the experiences with some vaguer complaints from the practical world such as fatigue, mental problems and inflammation of all kinds. It is true that there are all kinds of therapists, coaches and influencers who are too far ahead of the music and make far too strong claims. That said, this is a topic that deserves positive attention and encouragement to do more with it in the future.
Work together!
Fortunately, more and more scientists are picking up the subject. In doing so, do not underestimate the important role of coaches and experts by experience who are achieving great results. After all, there are certainly people in practice who get rid of annoying symptoms working from the 'leaky gut paradigm'. After all, that the harmless experiment of today is the science of the future has been proven so often in the field of nutrition and lifestyle coaching. So I would like to ask the panel of Radar and Jinek to stop this arrogant laughable attempt at framing. Yes, there are charlatans who abuse the subject, but that does not make it nonsense. Increased intestinal permeability and 'the leaky gut syndrome' is as far as I am concerned a very important topic to build on to help people even better with their 'vague complaints'. If you don't have a solution yourself as a medical specialist, do give people a chance with an honest and as well-founded alternative solution as possible.
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