iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll citlhscTaking antibiotics to target the gram-negative bacteria may be helpful in
some cases, but it does not always solve the root cause of the problem and
further compromises the bacterial balance in our intestines.
Dr. Maes found that in combination with a leaky gut diet, antioxidants
like glutamine, n-acetyl cysteine, and zinc can help “tighten” the intesti-
nal tight junctions within a year.
Additional antioxidants were also utilized: L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10,
taurine, lipoic acid (in cases of L-carnitine or coenzyme Q10 deficiency),
gamma oryzanol, curcumin, and quercetin (in the case of systemic or
intracellular inflammation). These were administered along with a “leaky
gut diet,” which was described as gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb.
According to Dr. Maes, “natural anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative
substances may improve the integrity of the gut barriers by reducing gut-
derived inflammation and tightening the opened tight junction barrier.”
Glutamine
Glutamine is the best-studied substance for healing intestinal permeabil-
ity. A deficiency in glutamine is also known to cause increased intestinal
permeability in mouse models and malnourished children.
Glutamine supplementation has been found to reduce the damage and
leaky gut associated with the use of NSAIDs. It also lessened gut perme-
ability in patients who had undergone abdominal surgery.
New epithelium in the GI is produced in three to six days, and glutamine
can help repair the GI lining in collaboration with other amino acids such
as leucine and arginine. Glutamine needs to be taken orally to be effective.
Glutamine dosed daily at 0.5 grams/kg ideal* body weight for two months
was shown to reduce intestinal permeability in subjects with Crohn’s dis-
ease. Dr. Maes used a more conservative dose of 7 grams a day.
*To calculate your ideal body weight (IBW), use the following formula:
Males: IBW = 50 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet
Females: IBW = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet
Zinc
Zinc supplementation has also been shown to tighten leaky gut in other
conditions such as Crohn’s disease. Maes, et al. found zinc levels were