(can't post the link, but the article is called "Intestinal permeability defects: is it time to treat?" on PubMed)

This article basically points out that there are no studies proving causation, but it doesn't deny that intestinal permeability is real. In fact, it discusses that it is. It points out that there has been correlation found in many diseases between increased intestinal permeability and symptoms/the disease.

So, for our purposes, and the purposes of "charlatans/quacks," we are using the term Leaky Gut Syndrome to describe a propensity towards increased and inappropriate intestinal permeability. To my knowledge, the permeability of the gut is generally controlled by the beneficial (and otherwise) bacteria in the gut. Therefore, with an imbalance, the tight junctions become less tight and allow pathogens/proteins/nutrients to cross the epithelial barrier. It's actually quite simple and a model from which they've been working for a long time.

It sounds like you're just quibbling with the label of Leaky Gut Syndrome. Would there have to be a PubMed article or a guy within the academic "scholarly article" circles who pronounced the name Leaky Gut Syndrome to be a valid thing before you allow us to use that term, or do you want us to refer to the "approved" term of intestinal permeability? The way I see it, if you have a leaky gut, you have a leaky gut. I guess it shouldn't matter if someone dubs it a syndrome. I don't even think I've ever said it allowed when talking about my own ailment. I just say, "I think it's leaky gut."

In like 2000, there was an episode of Malcolm in the Middle where they talked about leaky gut (in jest). Pretty crazy? But it seems that alternative medicine has been approaching treatment in this way for a very long time, and it is a good model to approach the treatment of these ailments.

Do you deny that this approach of treating a propensity toward intestinal permeability has healed countless individuals of all kinds of neurological ailments and

If you don't deny this, then why quibble with people about a term that is the basis and starting point for this treatment. These people who treat leaky gut are certainly making more headway than those who treat the symptoms with Ritalin, proton pump inhibitors, arthritis medication, statins, lithium, anti-psychotics, Actos, and all sorts of nasty side-effect–causing drugs. Perhaps I've just gone off the deep end on my belief in alternative medicine and naturopaths as the correct choice over MDs. I dunno. Me and about 200 million other looneys from around the world on the Internet.

I must say, though, my (former) MD, when I got sick, did tell me to take a probiotic. Props to that. So at least they're even starting to treat the source of the problem, based on a trickle-down effect of scholarly articles that show a correlation I guess.






Doc[/QUOTE]