Ever heard of leaky gut? Take a read and learn why your gut lining is crucial and how to assess its health.
Your Gut’s Lining – Mucosal Barrier Primer
The mucosal barrier is a physical and biochemical barrier that lines the inside of the body and helps to protect it from external factors. It consists of epithelial cells, zonulin, diamine oxidase (DAO) and histamine which all work together to prevent the entry of toxins, bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances into the body. Zonulin is responsible for maintaining the integrity of tight junctions in the gut lining, while DAO helps to break down dietary histamine. Histamine plays an important role in regulating inflammation in response to potential threats. Understanding how these components interact with each other can help us understand how mucosal barriers can be strengthened or weakened depending on environmental conditions.
The gut lining also helps control the movement of food through the digestive system and plays an important role in digestion, absorption and utilization of nutrients. It also produces hormones that regulate metabolism and immune functions, helping to maintain overall health. Understanding how gut lining works can help us better understand how to maintain a healthy intestinal environment for optimal digestive health.
One great way to screen your gut’s mucosal barrier and its health is through functional lab testing, specifically the FLUIDS iQ Mucosal Barrier Assessment.
Curious to get these insights for yourself? The FLUIDS iQ Mucosal Barrier Assessment (MBA) functional lab test produces results for all of these biomarkers.
What is the MBA?
The MBA is the Mucosal Barrier Assessment functional lab from the laboratory FLUIDS iQ.
What’s the main goal of the MBA?
The goal of an MBA is to give you further insights into your mucosal barrier, and therefore, insights into how well your body is doing at keeping bad substances out of your bloodstream and other sources of inflammation.
What does the Mucosal Barrier Assessment measure?
The MBA measures
- Zonulin FP
- DAO
- Histamine
- DAO:Histamine ratio
Zonulin
Zonulin is a protein that plays an important role in regulating the permeability of the mucosal barrier. It works by loosening tight junctions between cells, allowing for both intracellular and paracellular uptake of molecules and ions. This increased permeability can lead to a phenomenon known as hyper-permeability or leaky gut.
Zonulin is involved in controlling the movement of molecules across the mucosal barrier, which helps maintain homeostasis within the body. It has been found to play an important role in immune system regulation, as well as promoting tissue repair and wound healing. Additionally, research has suggested that zonulin may be involved in various pathologies related to intestinal permeability.
Increased zonulin levels are seen in many conditions associated with increased intestinal inflammation, with changes in permeability preceding clinical manifestations by up to a year. Zonulin is gaining acceptance as a non-invasive marker of intestinal wall integrity and developing disorders.
Read more here.
Histamine
Histamine is an important mediator of the mucosal barrier and inflammation in the body. It is produced by mast cells and basophils, and its release is triggered by allergens or other stimuli.
Histamine plays a role in the body’s defense against infection and injury, as it causes increased blood flow to the affected area, increased vascular permeability, and stimulation of certain immune cells. In addition to its role in inflammation, histamine also has other effects on the body such as regulating gastric acid secretion, stimulating smooth muscle contraction, and acting as a neurotransmitter.
Elevated levels of histamine can be a result of a variety of environmental triggers.
DAO
DAO (Diamine Oxidase) is an enzyme that plays an important role in maintaining the mucosal barrier of the gut. It helps to break down histamine, which is a chemical messenger involved in inflammation and the immune response. DAO also acts as a marker for mucosal injury, and can be used to assess the health of the gut lining. Low levels of DAO may point to a weak mucosal barrier.
The ingestion of histamine-rich food, alcohol, or drugs, as well as almost any inhalant allergens, that release histamine or block DAO, may provoke an imbalance of accumulated histamine and the capacity for its degradation, referred to as histamine intolerance.
DAO:Histamine Ratio
By comparing DAO and histamine, we can get a better look at what may be happening with the mucosal barrier. If there are high levels of histamine and low levels of DAO, then the chances of gut permeability increase. This is a healing opportunity that can be addressed.
Alternatively, if the ratio is good, but we see high levels of histamine and high levels of DAO, we may be able to say that there’s a chance of gut permeability.
It’s all about balance! Read more here.
What types of insights can I get from the MBA?
Mucosal barrier testing is an important tool for assessing the integrity of the gut. The mucosal barrier is a protective layer that lines the gastrointestinal tract and helps to keep out toxins, pathogens, and other harmful substances.
When this barrier becomes damaged or weakened, it can lead to a condition known as leaky gut syndrome. By testing the permeability of this barrier, we can identify healing opportunities and address them, so that unwanted health symptoms are greatly reduced or to optimize your health.
Some potential conditions related to increased gut permeability include:
- Food sensitivities/allergies
- Diabetes (type 1)
- Skin conditions
- Thyroid destruction
- Digestive issues
- Nutritional depletion
- Migraines
- Celiac disease
- … and many more!
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How do you take the MBA?
In order to get a test kit, you must go through a health practitioner that has access to order the kit for you.
Once ordered, the test kit will be mailed directly to your address, and you can take the test right from the comfort of your home.
The MBA is a dried blood spot test through a finger prick. The test kit will come with a notecard and a lancet. You will prick your finger and let the blood drop onto the notecard where indicated.
The results will be sent to your health practitioner, and then you will have a follow-up call to discuss the results and next steps.
If you’re interested in the MBA, check out the services page here. As an FDN-P, I have the ability to order these tests for you!
Summary
Your mucosal barrier plays a crucial role in keeping the bad stuff out of your body. If this ability is weakened, it opens the door to a lot of issues, symptoms, and inflammation. Therefore, it’s best to understand your mucosal barrier integrity and identify steps to make sure it’s as strong as it can be.
It’s always best to catch things before they become a problem so that you can focus on what matters most to you like loved ones, adventure, and peace of mind.
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