5. GI Health Flashcards
What is hypochlorhydria?
Low stomach acid
Characterised by gastric pH above 3
What are the key signs/symptoms of hypochlorhydria?
Gas/bloating (less than 30 mins after eating)
Nutrient deficiencies (Fe, Zn, B9, B12)
Heartburn
Feeling of fullness
Foul smelling stools
Diarrhoea
Nausea after taking supplements
Food allergies
Brittle nails
What are the implications of hypochlorhydria?
Reduced mineral absorption (Ca, Fe)
Poor protein digestion = SI protein putrefaction
Reduced protection from bacterial infection (H. pylori in stomach, SIBO in SI
Poor pancreatic juice and bile flow
Less IF = reduced B12 absorption
Natural approach to hypochlorhydria
Chew thoroughly
Avoid overeating
Avoid drinking with meals
ACV (1-2 tsp) in water before meals
Zn/B6 rich foods
Bitter foods - rocket, dandelion leaf, watercress
Bitter herbs - dandelion, gentian
Herbs - fennel seed, cardamom, citrus peel
What is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)?
Deficiency of exocrine pancreatic enzymes needed to maintain normal digestion
What does exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) lead to?
Nutrient (esp fat) malabsorption
Common signs/symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Bloating/belching/flatulence (1-2hrs after food)
Greasy/floating stools
Drowsiness after meals
Food intolerances
Low Zn/B12/B9 absorption
Symptoms of IBS/candidiasis/SIBO
What can cause exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Chronic stress - reduced Vagus nerve activity
Hypochlorhydria - reduced CCK stimulation
Damaged SI wall - Coeliac, IBD
Chronic diseases - cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, DM
Xenobiotics - can inactivate pancreatic enzymes
SIBO - can conjugate pancreatic enzymes
Dysbiosis
Natural approach to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Chew thoroughly
Avoid overeating
Avoid snacking between meals
Correct stomach acid levels - bitters
Stimulate Vagus nerve to activate PSNS
Deep breathing, gargle, hum
Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy
What types of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies are there?
Animal-derived
Plant-based
What are animal derived PERTs made from?
Pork
Benefits of plant based PERT over animal derived
Better acid stability
Broader range of enzymes
Wider pH range
Suitable for veggies/vegans/Jewish/Islamic
When to take pancreatic enzymes
Start of meals
Add during the meal depending on meal size/duration
What is bile insufficiency?
A condition where bile synthesis or bile flow is compromised
(affects ability to digest, absorb and utilise fatty acids from diet)
What are the signs/symptoms of bile insufficiency?
Pale, fatty stools
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Intolerance to fatty foods/nausea when eating
Bloating
Excess flatulence
Cramping
What indicators for bile insufficiency would be found on a stool test?
Low/absent bile acids
High faecal fats
(indicates fat malabsorption)
Common causes of bile insufficiency
Low dietary fat intake
Impaired liver function
Obesity
Oestrogen dominance - increased liver production of cholesterol which thickens bile and also slows oestrogen excretion
Low HCl - reduces CCK and bile release
Gall bladder removal
Coeliac disease
Crohn’s disease
Chronic pancreatitis
SIBO
What are the implications of long-term bile insufficiency?
Deficiency of fat-soluble nutrients
Hormone imbalances
Compromised liver detoxification
SIBO/dysbiosis (bile has antimicrobial effects)
Hypercholesterolaemia
Gallstones
Natural approach to bile insufficiency
Adequate hydration
Avoid processed food, trans fats, refined sugar
Chew slowly and thoroughly until food is liquid
Diaphragmatic breathing - massages liver, increases bile production
Increase taurine and choline-rich foods
Support liver detoxification
Consume choleretic and cholagogue foods and herbs
What is the mucosal barrier?
Mucus covering the entire GIT
Provides a thick barrier between the immune-stimulating contents of the outer world and the immune cells in the gut wall
What is the mucosal barrier made up of?
Water
Mucins
IgA
Anti-microbial peptides
What does the mucosal barrier provide an adhesion site for?
Commensal bacteria
What can disturbed mucosal barrier lead to?
Bacterial translocation
Leakage of LPS
Metabolic endotoxaemia
Natural approach to supporting the mucosal barrier
Optimise dietary fibre (to feed the bacteria)
Diet rich in polyphenols (feeds commensal bacteria, protects mucin lining, reduces inflammation)
Mucopolysaccharides - slippery elm, marshmallow root, liquorice, flaxseeds, seaweed
What does intestinal tight junction disassembly lead to?
Increased LPS load
Excessive immune reactions
Natural approach to supporting the intestinal tight junctions
Glutamine
Zinc carosine
Vit A
NAC
Bone broth (rich in glycine)
How can intestinal permeability be tested?
Stool test (Zonulin)
Serum antibodies (Cyrex Labs Array 2)
What is secretory IgA?
Resides in mucosal lining
Protects intestinal epithelium from toxins and pathogenic microbes through immune exclusion
What is immune exclusion?
SIgA promoting the clearance of antigens by blocking their access to epithelial receptors
What does low SIgA increase the risk of?
GI infections including SIBO
What can low SIgA be caused by?
Ongoing emotional/physical stress
NSAIDs
Antibiotics
How can we increase SIgA?
Address stress
Vit A (transport of SIgA over mucosal lining)
Vit D (upregulates SIgA expression)
Probiotics
Prebiotics
Saccharomyces boulardi
Mushrooms
Echinacea spp
What can an elimination diet be used for?
Identifying a food allergy or intolerance
What sorts of foods can cause reactions?
Gluten
Dairy
Corn
Soy
Eggs
Nuts
Beef
Pork
Yeast
Citrus
Nightshades
Chocolate
Coffee
What are the stages of an elimination diet?
Detox - days 1-2
Elimination - days 3-14
Reintroduction - days 15 onwards
What does stage 1 of an elimination diet involve?
Detox
Increase fruits, vegs, GF whole grains, healthy fats, water
Remove processed foods, confectionary, additives, caffeine, alcohol
What does stage 2 of an elimination diet involve?
Elimination
As per the detox and remove all suspected foods for 2 weeks (can be done one at a time
What does stage 3 of an elimination diet involve?
Reintroduction
Eat the suspect food 2-3 x/day for 1-3 days
If symptoms appear, remove the food again and wait for symptoms to disappear before trying the next suspect food
If a food causes a reaction, keep out of diet for 3 months
Need to also heal the gut
What are the stages of the 5R protocol?
Remove
Replace
Repopulate
Repair
Rebalance
What does the Remove stage of the 5R protocol involve?
Removing dietary irritants
Removing food allergens/triggers
Avoiding toxins
Avoiding unnecessary drugs/supplements
Removing potentially pathogenic bacteria, parasites etc
What does the Replace stage of the 5R protocol involve?
Replace digestive factors that may be lacking: Stomach acid secretions (bitters, reduce stress)
Pancreatic enzymes (bitters, enzymes)
Bile support (cholerectics, cholagogues)
What does the Repopulate stage of the 5R protocol involve?
Repopulating microbiome with probiotics and prebiotics
What does the Repair stage of the 5R protocol involve?
Repairing gut mucosa
Tight junction support
Supporting the mucosal barrier
Increasing SIgA
Reducing inflammation
What does the Rebalance stage of the 5R protocol involve?
Paying attention to lifestyle choices
Address stress
Sleep hygiene
Regular exercise
Does the 5R protocol have to be done in the same order each time and same duration?
No - depends on your case
Food intolerances - need to Repair gut before reintroducing (6 weeks)
Deficient microbiome (4 weeks)
SIBO/dysbiosis (4 weeks)
Parasites/worms - may need 2nd lot of antimicrobials before Repopulating
What is dysbiosis?
An imbalance in the colonies of bowel microflora
What can cause dysbiosis?
Poor diet - high in processed food, refined sugars, low in fibre
Intestinal/oral infections
Medications - antibiotics, OCP, antacids
Chronic stress
Low digestive secretions
C section
What can dysbiosis lead to?
Potential disruption in both local and systemic health
Atopic diseases
Metabolic syndrome
Colorectal cancer
Neurodegenerative diseases
Why can dysbiosis lead to atopic diseases?
C section infants with formula milk = lower levels of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli
Why can dysbiosis lead to metabolic syndrome?
Associated with less Bifidobacteria and Akkermansia
Increased E coli
Increased Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio
Why can dysbiosis lead to colorectal cancer?
Low fibre diets increase pathogenic bacteria like E coli, Campylobacter spp
Why can dysbiosis lead to neurodegenerative diseases?
AZD, Parkinson’s, MND sufferers often have increased pro-inflammatory bacterial species
Periodontal pathogens - P. gingivalis also associated with AZD
What is metabolic endotoxaemia?
Subclinical rise in bacterial LPS
Results in low grade inflammation
Which conditions is metabolic endotoxaemia associated with?
CVD
DM
AI
Degenerative disorders
What are LPS?
From the cell walls of gram negative bacteria
What GI dysfunctions can lead to an increase in LPS?
Dysbiosis
Mucosal degradation
Permeability of tight junctions