42 replies to this topic

[Omnivium]

The purpose of this thread is to find out why myself and others have malabsorption, based on the assumption that malabsorption could cause or worsen acne. Just to be clear, this thread is not about finding the effect malabsorption has on acne. It is about finding the cause of malabsorption.

The information below is from this website: http://www.puristat....on/default.aspx. I posted the information in this thread because people are more likely to read it. It is long, so I have highlighted the titles of sections and information that I thought was important.



Malabsorption Syndrome:
Famine for the Body – Feast of Illnesses

~ by Jo Jordan
Malabsorption – the failure to completely absorb nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract – is an enormous health care problem in the United States today. The list of causes, signs, symptoms, clinical features, and complications of malabsorption is so long, it’s practically mind-boggling. The causes alone total over two hundred!
Many serious illnesses are linked to malabsorption, celiac disease for example. The prevalence of celiac disease alone – the most common inherited malabsorption syndrome – is approximately one percent of the general population of the United States, and the numbers have been increasing over time.
But what, exactly, is malabsorption, and what – if anything – can be done to protect yourself from this syndrome?
How Malabsorption Works Against Good Digestive Health

Rather than being one specific disorder, malabsorption is a syndrome that includes a number of conditions whereby food nutrients are not adequately absorbed in the small intestine. To prevent and/or alleviate the symptoms and resulting complications of malabsorption, it’s important to understand what happens (or does not happen) when this condition sets in.
In a person with a healthy digestive system, food is eaten and digested, and nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine. If a disorder disrupts the digestion of food, or directly interferes with nutrient absorption, malabsorption becomes a potential factor.
Various substances are necessary for healthy digestion to take place. Conditions that prevent sufficient mixing of food with substances such as digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach can seriously affect digestion. This can happen to patients who’ve had a part of their stomach surgically removed.
For people with other types of disorders, adequate amounts or types of digestive enzymes don’t get produced. Insufficient bile production, an abundance of HCl, or too much bad bacteria growing in the small intestine may also negatively effect digestion.
Types of Malabsorption

While malabsorption can involve a general inability to absorb food, it is predominantly the inability to absorb certain sugars, fats, proteins, or vitamins from food.

There are three basic categories of malabsorption:
1. Selective, as with lactose malabsorption

2. Partial, as observed in those with abetalipoproteinemia (an inherited disorder that affects the absorption of dietary fats, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins)

3. Total, as in the case of those with celiac disease
Within these categories, there are many specific types:
Sugar malabsorption, usually of lactose or milk sugar, is the most common form of malabsorption.
Fat malabsorption, a more serious health concern than sugar malabsorption, necessitates an evaluation of the bile ducts, pancreas, and small intestine.
Nutrient malabsorption: several distinct malabsorption conditions affect the various steps in the transportation of nutrients. For example, iron deficiency anemia – resulting from iron malabsorption by the small intestine – is often caused by celiac disease.
What Causes Malabsorption?

Nutrient absorption can be caused by disorders that have injured the lining of the small intestine. Comprised of villi and microvilli (tiny and even smaller finger-like projections of membrane), healthy intestinal lining provides a large surface area for absorption.
Surgical removal of part of the small intestine (intestinal resection) reduces the surface area for absorption (short bowel syndrome). Acute, abnormal intestinal lining resulting from bacterial, parasitic, or viral infections; alcohol and certain drugs (antibiotics); and chronically abnormal intestinal lining resulting from injurious diseases such as celiac and Crohn's. Disorders that affect the remaining layers of the intestinal wall also inhibit absorption.
The two hundred causes can be classified into four distinct categories:
1. Those relating to the mucous membranes (mucosal) such as cow’s milk intolerance

2. Intraluminal, that is, causes relating to the cavity of the intestine such as chronic pancreatitis

3. Structural, for example Crohn’s disease

4. Causes outside the gut such as diabetes and eating disorders
Here is a list of some of the causes of malabsorption, by category:
Mucosal causes

• AIDS (Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
  
• Celiac disease
  
• Cow's milk protein intolerance
  
• Giardia lamblia / giardiasis
  
• Hookworm
  
• Intestinal tuberculosis
  
• Intestinal lymphectasia (and other causes of lymphatic obstruction include lymphoma, tuberculosis and cardiac disease)
  
• Soy milk protein intolerance
  
• Threadworm / roundworm
  
• Traveler’s diarrhea
  
• Tropical sprue (an nutrient absorption condition common in the tropics and subtropics)
  
• Whipple disease

Causes outside the gut

• Addison’s disease
  
• Carcinoid syndrome (a group of symptoms associated with tumors of the appendix, bronchial tubes in the lungs, colon, and small intestine)
  
• Diabetes
  
• Eating disorders
  
• Hyperparathyroidism
  
• Hyperthyroidism
  
• Hypoparathyroidism
  
• Hypothyroidism
  
• Malnutrition
  
• Widespread skin disease

Structural causes

• Amyloidosis (a group of diseases in which a protein builds up in the organs and tissues)
  
• Certain surgery types (gastrectomy, surgical treatments for obesity, etc.)
  
• Crohn’s disease
  
• Diverticulae and strictures
  
• Eosinophilic gastroenteropathy (a rare childhood disease characterized by white blood cell inflammation of the intestine)
  
• Fistulae (inadequate gastric mixing results)
  
• Mesenteric arterial insufficiency
  
• Parasites
  
• Radiation treatment damage
  
• Short bowel syndrome

Intraluminal causes

• Chronic pancreatitis
  
• Cystic fibrosis
  
• Defective bile salt secretion
  
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Other causes

• Abetalipoproteinemia (an inherited disorder that affects the absorption of dietary fats, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins)
  
• Biliary atresia (a rare condition in newborns whereby the common bile duct between the liver and small intestine is blocked or absent)
  
• Certain medications (some antacids, some antibiotics, some medications used to treat obesity)
  
• Certain cancer types (lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, gastrinomas)
  
• Cholestasis (a condition whereby bile cannot flow from the liver to the duodenum)
  
• Chronic liver disease/ PSC
  
• Collagen diseases
  
• Impaired enzyme transport
  
• Lactose intolerance (inability to digest the sugar lactose)
  
• Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (a genetic disease affecting the pancreas and bone marrow)
  
• Vitamin B12 malabsorption (may be due to juvenile pernicious anemia or tapeworm)

Symptoms of Malabsorption

Malabsorption signs and symptoms vary depending on the specific deficiency. Poor protein absorption, for example, can present with bodily swelling, dry skin, and hair loss, while insufficient absorption of specific sugars can result in abdominal bloating, explosive diarrhea, and severe flatulence. Inadequate absorption of fats in the digestive tract can result in stool that is bulky, pale, soft, and foul smelling (a condition known as steatorrhea).
Signs of malabsorption may include one or more of the following:

• Abdominal pain
  
• Anemia
  
• Bleeding
  
• Bloating
  
• Bulky stools
  
• Changes in weight and growth
  
• Children may experience a failure to thrive
  
• Cramping
  
• Dehydration
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Fatigue
  
• Fatty stools
  
• Flatulence
  
• Folate deficiency
  
• Gas
  
• Iron deficiency anemia
  
• Lethargy
  
• Muscle wasting
  
• Non-anemic iron deficiency
  
• Oily stools
  
• Skin changes
  
• Steatorrhoea (greasy, pale, bulky, and offensive-smelling stools)
  
• Undigested food in stools
  
• Vitamin B12 deficiency

Malabsorption can also affect growth and development, and/or lead to certain illnesses.



Malabsorption-Related Illnesses

Numerous health concerns are directly or indirectly linked to malabsorption issues: low stomach acid; Candida albicans; gastroparesis; gluten intolerance; indigestion; and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Long-term malabsorption can result in,

• Anemia
  
• Gallstones
  
• Heart failure
  
• Kidney stones
  
• Malnutrition
  
• Osteoporosis and osteomalacia (bone disease)

Further malabsorption complications include infertility, rickets, and stunted growth in children. In addition, untreated celiac disease can lead to small bowel glandular tissue cancer or lymphoma.



Diagnosing Malabsorption

When a patient is suffering with chronic diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies, and substantial weight loss despite a healthy diet, their health care provider may suspect malabsorption. More difficult to diagnose in older people than in the young, a variety of diagnostics are available to help make a determination.
Laboratory tests
Along with a complete physical exam, various other tests may be necessary to make an accurate malabsorption diagnosis:
A complete blood count (CBC) can determine whether or not anemia is the cause for malabsorption. Plasma viscosity (the thickness of the fluid in which blood cells are suspended), vitamin B12 level, red cell folate (folic acid), iron status, and clotting screen for vitamin K deficiency are measured. In addition, specific antibody screens can detect celiac disease.
Serum electrolytes can determine whether or not electrolyte imbalances – such as low levels of calcium, potassium, or magnesium – are the cause for malabsorption.
Liver function tests are performed to detect, evaluate, and monitor liver disease or damage.
Pancreatic function tests (blood tests) measure the gland’s ability to secrete an adequate supply of enzymes or other substances necessary for digestion. Amylase (the pancreatic enzyme responsible for digesting carbohydrates), lipase (the enzyme that digests fats), and trypsin (which digests proteins) levels are measured to determine pancreatic sufficiency.
Stool studies, the collection of stool samples over a two- or three-day period, is one of the most dependable ways to make a fat malabsorption diagnosis. More than seven grams of fat per day in the stool is a distinguishing malabsorption feature². If parasites or their eggs are detected, a parasitic infection may be the cause of malabsorption.
A comprehensive, non-invasive home stool test is also available³. It provides data on digestive and pancreatic function, gut microbial ecology (bacteria and yeast), and parasitic presence.
Breath hydrogen tests (BHT) examine samples of expired air for bacterial overgrowth by measuring exhaled hydrogen and/or methane.
D-xylose absorption tests measure how well the intestines absorb simple sugar (D-xylose).
Secretin stimulation tests examine the pancreas’s ability to respond to the hormone secretin, produced by the small intestine when partially digested food has moved from the stomach to the area of the pancreas.
Other lab tests measure the malabsorption of specific substances such as lactose.
Radiographic tests
X-rays with barium liquid contrast require a chalky solution, barium, to be drunk to coat the lining of the small intestine. Barium appears white on X-ray film, revealing any structural abnormalities.
Computerized tomography scans (CT or CAT) is a specialized X-ray technique capable of collecting more detail than a standard X-ray. CT scans can determine whether or not there is an underlying illness such as chronic pancreatitis or Whipple disease for which malabsorption has become a symptom and/or complication.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combines the use of X-rays and an endoscope to examine the liver’s bile ducts and pancreatic duct (biliary tree assessment). Under sedation, a small tube is inserted down the throat into the duodenum. A dye is injected into the duct, and an X-ray is taken.
Endoscopy
Endoscopic tests for specific sections of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are sometimes used to do a visual exam and assist with malabsorption diagnoses. All use a thin, flexible tube with a lighted camera inside the tip, and a small clipper (for biopsies), enabling health care providers to examine the GI tract lining.
A biopsy – the taking of a tissue sample from the intestinal lining to be used for further examination – may be required to detect abnormalities in the small intestine’s lining. The tissue is removed via the endoscope’s clipper.
Preventing Malabsorption

Since many malabsorption syndromes are hereditary, genetic screening may help prevent passing on the syndrome to unborn children. Early detection for infants and children is one of the best preventatives for hereditary malabsorption.
For some people, prevention of malabsorption syndromes can be as simple as avoiding foods or other substances (such as impure/unfiltered water sources while traveling or certain medications) that produce gastrointestinal distress and/or an allergic reaction. Subsequent monitoring to prevent additional nutritional deficiency illnesses is indicated.
Sometimes, a specific food can cancel out the effectiveness of a prescribed medication, leading to serious health problems over the long-term. Understanding how to prevent malabsorption syndromes can be a crucial part of healthy living.
Learn about medication interactions as well as those between foods and other substances. Grapefruit juice reacts with various drugs causing potentially dangerous side effects. Lipitor (for lowering cholesterol) if taken with recently ingested grapefruit or its juice may result in muscle cramps. Examine prescription drug inserts, which sometime outline medications that do not mix well.
Observe urine for discoloration and/or an unusual scent, which may coincide with the ingestion of certain drugs. Be aware of the color and quality of feces, particularly if it seems to contain foreign matter. Providing a fecal sample to your health care provider can confirm the presence of parasites, which may lead to vitamin B12 malabsorption.
Note any changes in your overall health. For example, muscle cramps and bone pain may indicate a vitamin D deficiency.
Malabsorption Syndrome Treatment

Prognosis depends on the underlying condition that is causing malabsorption. But much can be achieved – such as alleviating symptoms and decreasing the likelihood of further illness – through lifestyle changes, probiotics, and vitamin and nutrient supplementation.
While there are over two hundred suspected causes of malabsorption and treatment varies from one syndrome to the next, a few basic treatment principles apply to nearly all malabsorption cases:

• Ask about prescription medications. Depending on the underlying condition – antibiotics for a bacterial infection or anti-inflammatories for conditions such as Crohn's disease – drugs may be helpful.
  
• Avoid foods that seem difficult to digest.
  
• Be active in planning your diet to get at the root cause of malabsorption. For example, lactose or gluten intolerance is a common cause for malabsorption.
  
• Consider taking enzyme fortified drinks and supplements.
  
• Drink lots of water to help flush out the system, and assist in effective kidney function.
  
• Know what foods are more readily absorbed when eaten with certain others (food combining).
  
• Replace lost nutrients with alternate foods and high protein-vitamin supplements.
  
• Take a multi-vitamin. It simplifies the process of ensuring adequate daily intake of a variety of vitamins and nutrients.
  
• Take a probiotic. They may help increase the absorption of trace minerals, especially in people with high-phyate diets (i.e. legumes, nuts, and whole grains).
  
• Work with a specialist, providing stool samples etc., to determine the specific cause of malabsorption.

In Closing

Many serious illnesses are linked to malabsorption. An inflamed ileum (such as with various types of Crohn's disease) can interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12 and bile salts. Any inflammation along the length of the small intestine will seriously impair the absorption of all food.
Although malabsorption is a serious health care problem with an enormous array of causes and complications, a great deal can be achieved through simple lifestyle changes.
Prognosis greatly depends upon the underlying condition causing malabsorption, but the implementation of a prevention and treatment regimen including probiotics, and vitamin and nutrient supplementation can substantially alleviate symptoms, and prevent the onset of many more serious complications.












I plan on using betaine HCL capsules to see if I have low stomach acid, and I will do more research on inflammation of the small intestine. I'm not going to do anything immediately, because I have to wait a little longer to see if the MSM I am taking will start working.

There are some things I would like to know from you:
1. Have you seen any other threads like this?
2. Are you willing to use the information in this thread to try to stop your malabsorption and post your results?
3. Do you have any information to add?

Feel free to ask questions, but for now I don't know that much about malabsorption. I plan on using the information I have posted as well as other information to find out how to stop my malabsorption, gain weight, and clear my skin.

[chunkylard]

1. Yes, but not covering this specific subject matter.
2. I'd say that I already implement a good 90% of what's on this list, including supplementation.
3. Sarcoidosis is a possible and many times undiagnosed (or unknown) cause of a runaway immune/inflammatory response.This could be one of a multitude of factors as to why people who are eating healthy otherwise are unable to get the inflammatory response their body produces under control. Supplementation with things such as CoQ10/Omega-3s/Coconut oil/Turmeric/Cysteine/Inositol/Selenium/Digestive enzymes/Horsetail grass/Betaine/Wolf's Bane/Choline/Milk Thistle/Carnitine/CLA/GLA/etc.etc.etc. is pretty much vital in this case. Sarcoidosis is one such example, but I'm sure there's similar cases where such runaway inflammation occurs but one would not be diagnosed with sarcoidosis because there's no medical nomenclature for what they have.


Do scenarios exist in which the body is SO screwed up that no amount of eating healthy and exercising will return it to normal? Yes, I'm fairly confident that such scenarios do exist and they're more common than one would imagine.


In my opinion, there are cases where the body has been damaged in such a way (not necessarily VERY damaged) where an immune response is triggered constantly and the body is in a constant state of inflammation, forcing the body to prioritize and upregulate hormonal production to produce more anti-inflammatory hormones, which may be broken down into potentially damaging substances after their use or may simultaneously produce more hormones involved in acne, either directly or indirectly. This hormonal production may itself disrupt nutritional balance as it pertains to many vitamins and minerals.


I can't imagine this being extremely common though and I think that at one point, I may have had something along this line but with supplementation I brought my body back into balance. Coincidentally, without even really trying to get rid of it, I also got rid of some eczema I had on the back of my neck (not visible due to hair+shirt so I kind of forgot it existed for years) after I began supplementing extensively. This was even after my acne cleared up.

Humans bodies are weird like that.

Edited by chunkylard, 27 December 2011 - 12:15 AM.

[Tunnelvisionary]

I see you've done more investigating since reading my thread, haha.

Right now, my goals are to keep gluten out of my diet for a long while, and just keep eating the way I have the past few days. I recently stopped the sourdough and rice for a few days, and my skin all over my body has never looked or felt better. I've been eating less, truth be told, but I only lost body fat, what has remained is lean muscle, which is definitely a first. I've also felt better too. All I really need to do is make sure I get enough food throughout the day. Whenever I'm full from a really healthy meal, I feel so good and accomplished. My body is definitely improving in all areas since stopping all possible sources of gluten in my life.

My mom still thinks it's strange, but I told her all I'm avoiding is rice and wheat...and that I've started to eat way more fruits, vegetables, and meat...and I realized, that's all I really need! I keep the lean muscle, so while I'm still really skinny, I don't look like a tiny amorphous blob, which is awesome I really think my issue as well has been malabsorption.

So yeah, my progress will be documented periodically in my log, omivium, so check up on that once in a while if you want.

[FSAS]

does anyone have more information on the b12 issue? for the past 3 years my b12 was incredibly low, jumped high again and now low again that i have to take injections. im really not sure why this is when i eat a lot of meat and eggs. the doc just gave me the "theres no explanation". you mentioned parasites?

[alternativista]

chunkylard, on 27 December 2011 - 12:11 AM, said:

In my opinion, there are cases where the body has been damaged in such a way (not necessarily VERY damaged) where an immune response is triggered constantly and the body is in a constant state of inflammation, forcing the body to prioritize and upregulate hormonal production to produce more anti-inflammatory hormones, which may be broken down into potentially damaging substances after their use or may simultaneously produce more hormones involved in acne, either directly or indirectly. This hormonal production may itself disrupt nutritional balance as it pertains to many vitamins and minerals.

I can't imagine this being extremely common though...

I think it is likely very common that most people eating the SAD diet have gradually over time damaged their damaged their digestive tract and/or done other harm like atherosclerosis/heart diesease, diabetes,etc. It doesn't necessarily have to involve an immune response though. There are other inflammatory responses.

Omnivium, on 26 December 2011 - 11:18 PM, said:

There are some things I would like to know from you:
1. Have you seen any other threads like this?
2. Are you willing to use the information in this thread to try to stop your malabsorption and post your results?
3. Do you have any information to add?

Feel free to ask questions, but for now I don't know that much about malabsorption. I plan on using the information I have posted as well as other information to find out how to stop my malabsorption, gain weight, and clear my skin.

1) yes.
2) I don't believe I have a malabsorption problem and already have habits that help absorption.
3) Yes. http://www.acne.org/...ost__p__2574119

You should also look at the leaky gut thread pinned under important topics and search for other threads by Sweetjade. There's a link to many of her best in the link I posted above.

Omnivium, on 26 December 2011 - 11:18 PM, said:

The purpose of this thread is to find out why myself and others have malabsorption, based on the assumption that malabsorption could cause or worsen acne. Just to be clear, this thread is not about finding the effect malabsorption has on acne. It is about finding the cause of malabsorption.

In most people, it's caused by a whole lot of bad, unnatural habits we've developed in today's society. Habits of all kinds from what we eat/don't eat, how we eat, sedentary lifestyles and staying cooped up indoors all day/staying up at night in unnatural light.

-Bright daylight affects your ability to metabolize carbs.

-Antibiotics and tons of sugar cause an imbalance between beneficial flora and not beneficial microbes.

-Physical activity also stimulates intestinal muscles and thus digestion. Take a walk or do some chores.

-A study has found that sucralose increases the PH of your intestines and reduces the amount of good bacteria by up to 50%

-Medications that reduce mucus may harm digestive tract and increase your likelihood that you will get sick. certain types of antibodies function in the mucosal linings and are your first line of defense against pathogens. One of the reasons vaccines injected into the blood stream are not that affective. Don't take things to stop the inconvenience of a runny nose.

-Stress, intensive exercise, injury, inflammation use up the body's stores of glutamine which is important to the cells that line the digestive tract.

-NSAIDs damage digestive tract.

-medications of all sorts impair your body's ability to function and manage itself in all kinds of ways.

-sedentary lifestyle as moving around stimulates intestinal muscles and aids digestion.

And that's just a few off the top of my head. More info: http://www.acne.org/...ost__p__2574119

Edited by alternativista, 02 January 2012 - 09:40 AM.

[Omnivium]

chunkylard, on 27 December 2011 - 12:11 AM, said:

1. Yes, but not covering this specific subject matter.
2. I'd say that I already implement a good 90% of what's on this list, including supplementation.
3. Sarcoidosis is a possible and many times undiagnosed (or unknown) cause of a runaway immune/inflammatory response.This could be one of a multitude of factors as to why people who are eating healthy otherwise are unable to get the inflammatory response their body produces under control. Supplementation with things such as CoQ10/Omega-3s/Coconut oil/Turmeric/Cysteine/Inositol/Selenium/Digestive enzymes/Horsetail grass/Betaine/Wolf's Bane/Choline/Milk Thistle/Carnitine/CLA/GLA/etc.etc.etc. is pretty much vital in this case. Sarcoidosis is one such example, but I'm sure there's similar cases where such runaway inflammation occurs but one would not be diagnosed with sarcoidosis because there's no medical nomenclature for what they have.


Do scenarios exist in which the body is SO screwed up that no amount of eating healthy and exercising will return it to normal? Yes, I'm fairly confident that such scenarios do exist and they're more common than one would imagine.


In my opinion, there are cases where the body has been damaged in such a way (not necessarily VERY damaged) where an immune response is triggered constantly and the body is in a constant state of inflammation, forcing the body to prioritize and upregulate hormonal production to produce more anti-inflammatory hormones, which may be broken down into potentially damaging substances after their use or may simultaneously produce more hormones involved in acne, either directly or indirectly. This hormonal production may itself disrupt nutritional balance as it pertains to many vitamins and minerals.


I can't imagine this being extremely common though and I think that at one point, I may have had something along this line but with supplementation I brought my body back into balance. Coincidentally, without even really trying to get rid of it, I also got rid of some eczema I had on the back of my neck (not visible due to hair+shirt so I kind of forgot it existed for years) after I began supplementing extensively. This was even after my acne cleared up.

Humans bodies are weird like that.

Yeah I feel like something is wrong inside my body and it's not just going to go away by itself. Can you list the 90% of what's on this list that you are doing? Do you think it is safe to take digestive enzymes? Because I was considering taking them instead of betaine HCL.

Tunnelvisionary, on 27 December 2011 - 12:27 AM, said:

I see you've done more investigating since reading my thread, haha.

Right now, my goals are to keep gluten out of my diet for a long while, and just keep eating the way I have the past few days. I recently stopped the sourdough and rice for a few days, and my skin all over my body has never looked or felt better. I've been eating less, truth be told, but I only lost body fat, what has remained is lean muscle, which is definitely a first. I've also felt better too. All I really need to do is make sure I get enough food throughout the day. Whenever I'm full from a really healthy meal, I feel so good and accomplished. My body is definitely improving in all areas since stopping all possible sources of gluten in my life.

My mom still thinks it's strange, but I told her all I'm avoiding is rice and wheat...and that I've started to eat way more fruits, vegetables, and meat...and I realized, that's all I really need! I keep the lean muscle, so while I'm still really skinny, I don't look like a tiny amorphous blob, which is awesome I really think my issue as well has been malabsorption.

So yeah, my progress will be documented periodically in my log, omivium, so check up on that once in a while if you want.

I'm still going to follow your log. I just didn't know if gluten sensitivity was the problem. For me, it could be anything, so I wanted to learn more about other causes of malabsorption.

Tunnelvisionary, on 27 December 2011 - 12:27 AM, said:

tiny amorphous blob

Lol.

[Tunnelvisionary]

Omnivium, on 27 December 2011 - 02:05 PM, said:

I'm still going to follow your log. I just didn't know if gluten sensitivity was the problem. For me, it could be anything, so I wanted to learn more about other causes of malabsorption.

Sounds good to me man! Good luck, lemme know how it goes.

[Omnivium]

FSAS, on 27 December 2011 - 01:23 AM, said:

does anyone have more information on the b12 issue? for the past 3 years my b12 was incredibly low, jumped high again and now low again that i have to take injections. im really not sure why this is when i eat a lot of meat and eggs. the doc just gave me the "theres no explanation". you mentioned parasites?

I should mention that I don't really know about malabsorption. All I did was copy and paste that information. I am trying to learn about it, but for now the best I can do is post a few links.
http://www.bupa.co.u...y/v/anaemia-b12
http://www.aafp.org/.../0301/p979.html
I thought this last one was interesting because it links b12 deficiency to celiac disease(gluten intolerance).
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/11280545

How does one know if their b12 levels are too low?

alternativista, on 27 December 2011 - 09:16 AM, said:

1) yes.
2) I don't believe I have a malabsorption problem and already have habits that help absorption.
3) Yes. http://www.acne.org/...ost__p__2574119

You should also look at the leaky gut thread pinned under important topics and search for other threads by Sweetjade. There's a link to many of her best in the link I posted above.

Wow there was a lot of information in that link. I wouldn't even know where to start. Can you please post the links to the other malabsorption threads? Is leaky gut one of the causes of malabsorption?

[Omnivium]

I just found this list of 62 causes for malabsorption.
http://www.rightdiag...rome/causes.htm

I am in the process of making a more organized list of the main causes of malabsorption and possible solutions. I am still trying MSM, so it might be as long as 2 weeks before I actually try something for malabsorption.

[FSAS]

Omnivium, on 27 December 2011 - 02:25 PM, said:

FSAS, on 27 December 2011 - 01:23 AM, said:

does anyone have more information on the b12 issue? for the past 3 years my b12 was incredibly low, jumped high again and now low again that i have to take injections. im really not sure why this is when i eat a lot of meat and eggs. the doc just gave me the "theres no explanation". you mentioned parasites?

I should mention that I don't really know about malabsorption. All I did was copy and paste that information. I am trying to learn about it, but for now the best I can do is post a few links.
http://www.bupa.co.u...y/v/anaemia-b12
http://www.aafp.org/.../0301/p979.html
I thought this last one was interesting because it links b12 deficiency to celiac disease(gluten intolerance).
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/11280545

How does one know if their b12 levels are too low?

alternativista, on 27 December 2011 - 09:16 AM, said:

1) yes.
2) I don't believe I have a malabsorption problem and already have habits that help absorption.
3) Yes. http://www.acne.org/...ost__p__2574119

You should also look at the leaky gut thread pinned under important topics and search for other threads by Sweetjade. There's a link to many of her best in the link I posted above.

Wow there was a lot of information in that link. I wouldn't even know where to start. Can you please post the links to the other malabsorption threads? Is leaky gut one of the causes of malabsorption?

thankyou.
i found out my levels were considering low (they were 180?) i think, compared to the 370 or something they were 12 months before. just had a blood test. although my doc said it takes up to 5 years for b12 to drop like that which clearly is wrong because i looked personally back at my last 3 blood tests in a 3 year span and 2 years ago it was 180 (low)again..but no one told me. last year it went to 370 and in a matter of months dropped to 180 again. really not sure what that means or how that happened as im not a vegetarian. i was scared taking the injections due to so many reports of people breaking out really badly whilst continuing use (obviously a must) and when they stopped the acne went away but in my 3 injections thus far i havent had a break out more than my usual so sort of a relief in that sense.

[alternativista]

Omnivium, on 27 December 2011 - 06:21 PM, said:

I just found this list of 62 causes for malabsorption.
http://www.rightdiag...rome/causes.htm

I am in the process of making a more organized list of the main causes of malabsorption and possible solutions. I am still trying MSM, so it might be as long as 2 weeks before I actually try something for malabsorption.

I don't think lists of diseases is as useful to most people as a list of various habits that affect digestion which is most likely the culprit for most people. Because these days, most people have a whole lot of very bad habits that add up.

And MSM caused me to have a really weird acne that took forever to go away.

[Omnivium]

alternativista, on 28 December 2011 - 04:06 PM, said:

I don't think lists of diseases is as useful to most people as a list of various habits that affect digestion which is most likely the culprit for most people. Because these days, most people have a whole lot of very bad habits that add up.

And MSM caused me to have a really weird acne that took forever to go away.

I'm not just making a list of diseases. There will be many things on the list that are not diseases, and I'm not going to include the rare diseases that affect like .01% of people.

Since I started trying to clear my skin in a healthy way, I have cut out many bad habits and adopted many good habits, but none of the good habits have helped my skin at all. Now I sleep 8-9 hours a day, I exercise 45 minutes a day, I rarely have soda, candy, fast food, dairy, etc., and I don't use any harsh face washes. None of those habits have improved my skin at all. I just think I need to do something more than change some bad habits. Maybe my body is in a state like ckunkylard mentioned. Maybe my body is so messed up that healthy habits alone will not fix it. I think other people feel exactly the same way.

[alternativista]

Omnivium, on 28 December 2011 - 06:41 PM, said:

alternativista, on 28 December 2011 - 04:06 PM, said:

I don't think lists of diseases is as useful to most people as a list of various habits that affect digestion which is most likely the culprit for most people. Because these days, most people have a whole lot of very bad habits that add up.

And MSM caused me to have a really weird acne that took forever to go away.

I'm not just making a list of diseases. There will be many things on the list that are not diseases, and I'm not going to include the rare diseases that affect like .01% of people.

Since I started trying to clear my skin in a healthy way, I have cut out many bad habits and adopted many good habits, but none of the good habits have helped my skin at all. Now I sleep 8-9 hours a day, I exercise 45 minutes a day, I rarely have soda, candy, fast food, dairy, etc., and I don't use any harsh face washes. None of those habits have improved my skin at all. I just think I need to do something more than change some bad habits. Maybe my body is in a state like ckunkylard mentioned. Maybe my body is so messed up that healthy habits alone will not fix it. I think other people feel exactly the same way.

Have you tried taking a walk or doing some chores after meals? Do you get outdoors into the light during the day as much as possible? Is your sleep at night in the dark? Do you eat gluten, soy, peanuts or kidney beans all of which have been shown to permeate the intestinal linings? Have you tried consuming foods known to heal the digestive tract? Do you take probiotics? Do you suffer from stress? Do you take NSAIDS? Take medications to reduce mucus? I can't think what they are called. Things you might take for a cold or flu.

Edited by alternativista, 29 December 2011 - 09:59 AM.

[Omnivium]

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Have you tried taking a walk or doing some chores after meals?

No, not immediately after. I thought we weren't supposed to exercise after meals.

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Do you get outdoors into the light during the day as much as possible?

No. I admit that is one bad habit I have.

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Is your sleep at night in the dark?

Yes. It is not perfect darkness, but I do make it very dark.

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Do you eat gluten, soy, peanuts or kidney beans all of which have been shown to permeate the intestinal linings?

Yes. I didn't know they permeated the intestinal linings. I was going to include gluten/soy intolerances in my list of causes of malabsorption.

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Have you tried consuming foods known to heal the digestive tract?

I don't know. Which foods heal the digestive tract?

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Do you take probiotics?

I took them until the bottle ran out, about 50 or 60 days. The bottle said there were 3 billion live cells per capsule, and I took 2 capsules per day. The only thing it did was make me defecate more frequently. It didn't help my acne or help me gain weight. I was also going to include probiotics and prebiotics in my list of solutions.

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Do you suffer from stress?

No, I wouldn't say that I am stressed.

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Do you take NSAIDS?

I take ibuprofen only when I get a headache, like once a month.

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Take medications to reduce mucus? I can't think what they are called. Things you might take for a cold or flu.

I don't take any medications.


I appreciate your help, but I am still not convinced that all I have to do is stop my bad habits. I know there are plenty of people who don't follow any of those good habits, but still have clear skin. The difference between people with acne and people with clear skin can't just be the habits they have. I think there is an internal difference, like a food intolerance, or unbalanced gut flora.

[alternativista]

Omnivium, on 29 December 2011 - 03:13 PM, said:

I appreciate your help, but I am still not convinced that all I have to do is stop my bad habits. I know there are plenty of people who don't follow any of those good habits, but still have clear skin. The difference between people with acne and people with clear skin can't just be the habits they have. I think there is an internal difference, like a food intolerance, or unbalanced gut flora.

Of course not. There's a genetic tendency towards acne. There are several ways it's genetically influenced. One of which is a tendency towards hyperkeratinization/hyperproliferation and impaired desquamation. Just because they don't have acne doesn't mean they don't have all kinds of health problems and don't/aren't going to suffer from these bad habits, whether or not they know it yet. I mean Tyra Banks has IBS. And is acne free.

Omnivium, on 29 December 2011 - 03:13 PM, said:

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Have you tried taking a walk or doing some chores after meals?

No, not immediately after. I thought we weren't supposed to exercise after meals.

We are not supposed to be sedentary. And moving around stimulates intestinal muscles.

Edited by alternativista, 30 December 2011 - 10:25 AM.

[alternativista]

Omnivium, on 29 December 2011 - 03:13 PM, said:

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Do you eat gluten, soy, peanuts or kidney beans all of which have been shown to permeate the intestinal linings?

Yes. I didn't know they permeated the intestinal linings. I was going to include gluten/soy intolerances in my list of causes of malabsorption.

See the ZAG enzyme thread, including my latest post:
http://www.acne.org/...s/page__st__200

Omnivium, on 29 December 2011 - 03:13 PM, said:

alternativista, on 29 December 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Have you tried consuming foods known to heal the digestive tract?

I don't know. Which foods heal the digestive tract?

Glucosamine, probiotics, collostrum, mucin containing plants like aloe vera, okra, cactus pear. More in the link I provided to you earlier: http://www.acne.org/...ost__p__2574119

[Omnivium]

Here is my first draft of the malabsorption cause/solution list. I am not a doctor and anything in this table might not work for you. In the solutions column, a slash / means and/or. It does not mean you have to do all of the possible solutions I listed. There are more causes and solutions that I did not list. I have provided links to some things that I thought needed them. I have organized them into categories, in order of what I thought was the most likely to be the cause. I know this message board's formatting does not always agree with other applications, so there could be some formatting mistakes.

Food Intolerances

Causes
Possible Solutions
milk protein intolerance/milk allergy/lactose intolerance http://en.wikipedia....ki/Milk_allergy
Don't eat dairy/take lactase enzyme supplements
gluten intolerance(celiac disease)
Don't eat gluten/take gluten enzyme supplement
https://foodreaction...en/enzymes.html
soy intolerance
Don't eat soy
food allergies
Don't eat foods you are allergic to


Body Conditions

Causes
Possible Solutions
malnutrition
Take a multivitamin/eat nutrient-dense foods
leaky gut
Take prebiotics, probiotics, zinc, glutamine, N-acetyl cysteine
low stomach acid
Take betaine HCL/cayenne
unbalanced gut flora http://en.wikipedia....n_flora_balance
Take prebiotics/probiotics/eat fermented food
enzyme deficiency
Take multi-enzyme supplement/pancreatin/bromelain/papain/eat raw fruits and vegetables
defective bile salt secretion(cholestasis is one example)
Take ox bile/taurine/milk thistle/turmeric
fructose malabsorption
Don't eat fructose/take amylase enzyme supplement
overburdened liver
Take milk thistle/turmeric/MSM/do a liver cleanse
electrolyte imbalances http://wiki.medpedia...ption#Diagnosis
Eat more electrolytes/eat less electrolytes/take sodium/take potassium/take calcium


Infections

Causes
Possible Solutions
bacterial overgrowth
Take prebiotics/probiotics/betaine HCL
candida(candida albicans)
Take probiotics/go on candida diet


Drugs

Causes
Possible Solutions
antibiotics http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/3907788 http://en.wikipedia....n_flora_balance
Don't take antibiotics/take prebiotics/take probiotics/eat fermented food
antacids
Don't take antacids/take betaine HCL
alcohol http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/6409471
Don't drink alcohol
other
Don't do drugs except for necessary medical reasons


Diseases

Causes
crohn's disease
diabetes
pancreatitis
liver disease
Whipple disease
other


Surgery

Causes
intestinal resection
gastrectomy
short bowel syndrome
other


I did not include much information about each cause, so if you suspect you have one of them, do some research on your own. I know this list is far from perfect, so I encourage any suggestions or corrections.

This is that formatting error I was talking about. It was supposed to be a table with causes on the left and solutions on the right, but now it alternates between the causes and solutions. So the cause comes first and the possible solution is under it. I will fix it and post another one if someone points out any mistakes. I did not include solutions to diseases or surgeries because you can't just get rid of them. I know the list is of kind of confusing due to the formatting mistake, so give me some suggestions and corrections so I can make a better one.

[dragonfly5465]

FSAS, on 27 December 2011 - 08:28 PM, said:

Omnivium, on 27 December 2011 - 02:25 PM, said:

FSAS, on 27 December 2011 - 01:23 AM, said:

does anyone have more information on the b12 issue? for the past 3 years my b12 was incredibly low, jumped high again and now low again that i have to take injections. im really not sure why this is when i eat a lot of meat and eggs. the doc just gave me the "theres no explanation". you mentioned parasites?

I should mention that I don't really know about malabsorption. All I did was copy and paste that information. I am trying to learn about it, but for now the best I can do is post a few links.
http://www.bupa.co.u...y/v/anaemia-b12
http://www.aafp.org/.../0301/p979.html
I thought this last one was interesting because it links b12 deficiency to celiac disease(gluten intolerance).
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/11280545

How does one know if their b12 levels are too low?

alternativista, on 27 December 2011 - 09:16 AM, said:

1) yes.
2) I don't believe I have a malabsorption problem and already have habits that help absorption.
3) Yes. http://www.acne.org/...ost__p__2574119

You should also look at the leaky gut thread pinned under important topics and search for other threads by Sweetjade. There's a link to many of her best in the link I posted above.

Wow there was a lot of information in that link. I wouldn't even know where to start. Can you please post the links to the other malabsorption threads? Is leaky gut one of the causes of malabsorption?

thankyou.
i found out my levels were considering low (they were 180?) i think, compared to the 370 or something they were 12 months before. just had a blood test. although my doc said it takes up to 5 years for b12 to drop like that which clearly is wrong because i looked personally back at my last 3 blood tests in a 3 year span and 2 years ago it was 180 (low)again..but no one told me. last year it went to 370 and in a matter of months dropped to 180 again. really not sure what that means or how that happened as im not a vegetarian. i was scared taking the injections due to so many reports of people breaking out really badly whilst continuing use (obviously a must) and when they stopped the acne went away but in my 3 injections thus far i havent had a break out more than my usual so sort of a relief in that sense.

I have pernicious anaemia, which is the most common cause of a b12 deficiency (some websites will say b12 deficiency causes PA but it is the other way around).

PA as an auto-immune disease which means that a I have antibodies in my blood that attack my stomach. This stops my stomach producing something called ‘intrinsic factor’ which binds to the b12 in food, without it the intestine cannot absorb b12. You can ask your doctor to test for intrinsic factor antibodies to determine if PA is the cause of your b12 deficiency. If it is DO NOT STOP injections even if blood tests show high readings, as you can never get b12 out of food and only a little out of high dose supplements.

Look at this website for more info

http://www.perniciou...ia-society.org/

Also, due to the damage to my stomach I have now developed low stomach acid, and am having problems with other vitamins and minerals.

Back to acne (as this is a acne website) - I’ve never had good skin, but I did get more spots with b12 injections, but I think my overall health is more important than the look of my skin.

[Omnivium]

I was doing some research on leaky gut, and it turns out that leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, can be just as much of a digestion problem as malabsorption. The website I was on said that leaky gut actually causes food allergies, and it is a possible cause for malabsorption. It also said that zinc supplements help heal leaky gut, and zinc helps many people with acne. This post is going to be long again, so I have highlighted the important parts. The information below comes from this website: http://www.enzymestu...ionleakygut.htm







Leaky Gut / Intestinal Permeability and Enzymes
last updated 8.25.05

• What is Leaky Gut
  
• What Causes Leaky Gut
  
• Problems of Having Leaky Gut
  
• Fixing the Holes in the Boat
  
• Is Malabsorption the Same as Leaky Gut
  
• Link to Research

What is Leaky Gut
The largest part of the immune system in our body is in the mucosal lining in the gut. The immune system makes sure all those undesirable elements do not get across into the bloodstream to begin with. The intestines are permeable to a certain degree so the proper nutrients get through. Spots in the gut wall open and close selectively to admit the good stuff as the contents of the intestines pass by. Normally, only certain nutrients are absorbed if they are sufficiently broken-down and in the right form. Everything else is selectively blocked out. But when the pores are too big or the screening process breaks down, the intestines become hyperpermeable (overly permeable). Leaky gut syndrome is a term used when the intestines become damaged, more openings develop in the gut wall, and the wall becomes more ‘porous’ to the extent that some of the contents passing through the intestines are allowed to get into the bloodstream when they should be kept out.
Not just food particles slip through. Pathogens, toxins, and other types of ‘waste’ get through that should normally be screened out. Insufficiently broken-down food particles or toxins may cause the liver to work much harder trying to clean everything out. The liver may not be able to keep up with all the detoxification demands sent its way and the toxin load starts building up in the body.
When the gut becomes hyperpermeable, all sorts of gunk can get through and run loose in the body. When this happens, the immune system kicks into gear to stop these invaders. Typically the immune system escorts the invaded out of the body quickly. However, this task often falls to the liver, which may be quite overworked and not able to do this immediately. If not removed right away, the troublesome particles and complexes can migrate through the body and settle in any of the different tissues they pass by. This leads to inflammation in whatever part of the body they settle.
Now we have a new problem: inflammation. This puts even more pressure on the immune system to cover even more ground in defending the body. With the immune system running on ‘high’ on a regular basis, it may be spread thin over a wide array of territory defending the gut, cleaning the blood, fighting inflammation, warding off pathogens, and so on. Many autoimmune conditions start this way. Which type of autoimmune condition a person ends up with may depend on which part of the body the immune complexes settle into.
see Autoimmune / Neuro Conditions
If you are having food sensitivities to more than a dozen foods, you may very likely have a leaky gut. When the gut is injured in this way, any food eaten may be a candidate to be insufficiently digested and absorbed leading to food intolerances. If you find you are sensitive to a few foods, remove those, then later notice some previously tolerated foods are now causeing problems, consider a leaky gut. The core issue may not be the foods you are eating, but simply that digestion is poor and the gut injured, so anything eaten (and eaten frequently) may become problematic.


What Causes Leaky Gut?
Anyone can develop a leaky gut at any time in their lives. Several factors can lead to leaky gut, either occurring individually or working together. Any chemical or physical activity that stimulates the pores in the intestines and keeps them open for too long can lead to increased permeability. Some common sources follow.

Yeast – This is probably one of the primary causes of leaky gut.Yeasts are single-celled organisms that usually reside in the mucosal lining. Yeast can grow out of the single-cell form and into a fungal form. The fungal form grows root-like tentacles (hyphae) that drill deep into the mucosal lining, poking ‘holes’ in the gut.

Excessive environment toxins –With the detoxification system overloaded or dysfunctional, environment toxins from either inside or outside the body may build up. They can irritate the intestinal lining. The constant inflammation and immune system activity can create a more permeable gut wall.

Chronic stress – Stress suppresses the immune system and can alter intestinal physiological function, increase gut permeability, and cause inflammation. A healthy immune system can easily block out typical pathogens, but a weak one may be overrun. When the immune system is overactive for an extended period of time, leaky gut can develop.
Inflammation – Anything causing inflammation may lead to leaky gut. This can result from insufficiently broken-down food or infections of any kind. Maybe the stomach just does not produce enough hydrochloric acid, resulting in improper digestion. Larger particle sizes from any food can irritate the gut lining. Yeast/bacteria/parasites/viruses can all cause inflammation. Besides the physical damage created by an imbalance of microbes in the gut, bacteria and yeast give off many toxins.
see Bacteria
see Yeast
see Viruses

Medications – Medications, prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may also lead to increased permeability. They are considered ‘hard’ on the gastrointestinal lining. Aspirin reduces the thickness of the mucosal lining in the gut, thus making it more susceptible to yeast, inflammation, and irritation by food passing through the gut.

Diet – A diet high in sugar, refined flour and processed foods, complete with their rainbow of artificial food colorings, flavorings, and preservatives places a lot of stress on the immune system as well as the liver. Our bodies see most of the artificial chemicals as pure toxins. The more you consume, the more the body must process out. Most processed foods have less nutrition in them as well. So, you use more energy and nutrients processing these foods from your body and receive less energy from the food. A diet high in refined sugar, flours, and artificial chemicals can actually cost you nutrients and energy rather than supply them.
see Feingold Program

Zinc deficiency – Zinc is necessary in maintaining intestinal wall integrity. Supplementing with zinc could contribute significantly to healing a leaky gut in about eight weeks (Sturniolo 2001). Zinc is also instrumental in a maintaining a healthy immune system (Prasad 2002). The synthesis of serotonin involves zinc. Since serotonin is also necessary for melatonin synthesis, a zinc deficiency may result in low levels of both of these compounds, causing problems with the sleep cycle, calming, and hyperness.
see Serotonin


Problems of Having Leaky Gut
Leaky gut is a condition that can directly lead to many other specific disease states, or indirectly aggravate or worsen other conditions. You may have leaky gut and not be aware of it. Many food intolerances and sensitivities are a consequence of a leaky gut to some degree. You may just feel run down, out of energy, have many food and chemical intolerances, or a multitude of other seemingly unrelated problems. Symptoms of leaky gut syndrome may include:

• aggression • anxiety • asthma • atypical sensory reactions • bed-wetting • bladder infections • bloating or gas • chronic joint, muscle, or abdominal pain • confusion • diarrhea or constipation • fatigue • fevers of unknown origin • fuzzy thinking or ‘brain fog’ • indigestion • memory problems • migraines • mood swings • nervousness • poor exercise tolerance • poor immunity • skin rashes

Besides particles being too large, escaping into the bloodstream, wandering loose in the body, and causing havoc, there is another side to consider. Because the food was not digested and absorbed properly, the person may experience nutrient deficiencies. In one area, the nutrients are bound up in a manner the body does not recognize and hailing in the immune system to remove them. Yet, in another location, the body is starving for those same nutrients. The biological system is overworking unnecessarily in one area while shutting down somewhere else because of insufficient raw materials.
Vitamin therapies may target some of these other systems starving for raw materials. By supplying just the one or two specific raw materials, we may temporarily fix that part, if the vitamin can even reach the intended area of the body, but the system as a whole is still malfunctioning. If the gut is not absorbing food well, then the supplements may not be absorbed well either. A better plan is to fix the hole in the boat (heal the gut).
see Food Sensitivities
see Sensory Integration


Fixing the Holes in the Boat
Some of the solutions people pursue just address the superficial symptoms. Often better and quicker results will be seen if healing the leaky gut condition is part of the overall treatment program, rather than just focusing on treating the various diseases or symptoms that result from the injured gut. There are several different paths to healing a leaky gut. Some of the primary ones found by research are:

• digestive enzymes
  
• probiotics
  
• zinc
  
• oats/oatmeal (see study below)

There are other supplements such as essential fatty acids or aloe vera which help some people.

Digestive enzymes may be extremely helpful with leaky gut situations because they tackle the problem on several fronts. Enzymes break down the food particles so they do not exist as larger particles that will physically irritate the gut lining or activate the immune system. Plant or microbe (fungal)-based enzymes are especially effective because they do much of this breakdown in the stomach before the food even enters the intestines, a good 60 to 90 minutes before pancreatic enzymes emerge on the scene. Then, by breaking the food down, enzymes are also freeing the individual vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients so the body can use them as the raw materials it needs as well as releasing the energy from your food. Normal biological processes can proceed. Because your nutrition comes from food, you then do not have to supplement extra vitamins, minerals, and whatever else to make up for what you eliminated through diet. Nutrition from whole foods is generally more effective than from many supplements too.

Because enzymes can process the food particles down to their essential forms, anything that does leak through the gut while it is healing is less likely to provoke a negative reaction. Enzymes work on the foods you do suspect as well as those you don’t, or unknown sources. Food intolerances usually drop off dramatically when enzyme use begins. Many people report improvements the very first day of taking enzymes.
However, because some food intolerances are processed out of the body a few days later, it is very common to hear of significant improvement by the end of the first week on enzymes.

Next, enzymes proactively support intestinal health. They can act as trash collectors removing dead tissue, debris, chemicals, and toxins from the body. This cleaning out allows the gut to heal faster. Another bonus is that enzymes are effective at clearing out pathogens that may cause and contribute to damaging the gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria and parasites are made of proteins, viruses have protein coatings or ‘films,’ and yeasts have outer shells consisting of cellulose and protein. Proteases and cellulases can help break these intruders down, and then carry off the toxins and dead cells the destroyed pathogens leave behind.

If the digestive enzymes themselves are absorbed into the bloodstream along with the other things, this can be very beneficial. Enzymes, especially the proteases that break down proteins, travel through the bloodstream cleaning out any gunk, toxins, and waste that may be accumulating there. They selectively latch onto toxins and escort them out of the body leaving the good tissue and red blood cells to carry on. This assistance in cleaning the blood helps relieve the burden on the liver and the immune system. Enzymes help clear out the traffic jams so everything can get back on schedule. Proteases are often given in between meals for just this purpose. If you give proteases with food, the enzymes will act on the food first, so giving them between meals sends them directly into the bloodstream to do cleanup. Substantial scientific research has established that the bloodstream takes up enzymes intact where they work in this way (Leibow and Rothman 1975; Rothman, Liebow, and Isenman (2002).

Another benefit of taking proteases between meals is to reduce inflammation. Bromelain and papain (protease enzymes derived from pineapple and papaya) have undergone study in great detail for this purpose and are found to be incredibly effective at reducing inflammation. Proteases can reduce inflammation in the gut directly. Bromelain and papain are well-known agents for assisting in healing gastric ulcers. Material leaking through the intestinal lining can make its way to joints and aggravate them to the point of inflammation, or add to inflammation already started. The proteases in the bloodstream break down these sources of inflammation as they pass by in the bloodstream. Then the debris is transported out of the body, freeing the immune system up to do other things, and allowing you to enjoy your life without so much pain.

The nice thing about enzymes is they address the damaged gut, problematic peptides, food intolerances, and nutrient deficiencies all at the same time. You cover a lot of territory by taking just this one type of supplement.
A good probiotic will help restore the needed balance among the bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms. Out with the bad and in with the good. A consistent supply of probiotics is like tending a lawn. You need to kill the weeds, and then keep seeding with the ‘good’ grasses. A healthy lawn will need just a little maintenance. However, doing no maintenance will very soon give you a yard overrun with weeds again.


Is Malabsorption the Same as Leaky Gut?
Although you can have both conditions, and they are related, they are technically different. Leaky gut can be caused by a variety of things and can very often lead to malabsorption. Leaky gut is the state where the protective gut lining looses its integrity. It is less capable of properly selectively screening out those elements that should be screened out, and allowing those elements in that should be let in. So items that should be screened out gain access in.
Malabsorption means 'bad absorption of some type for some reason'. It doesn't indicate the cause though. Nutrients are not being absorbed properly. You might have leaky gut involved, but you can also have malabsorption without leaky gut. If you have a pancreatic problems, poor stomach acid, various diseases, or other causes, you might have an intact gut lining but for some reason, some nutrients are not being absorbed properly. This might be many nutrients or only a few in particular.
What is nice about digestive enzymes is they can help both a leaky gut and malabsorption at the same time.


Research
Enzymes and Leaky gut/intestinal problems
Oats Healing the Gut
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2001 Nov;299(2):442-8.
Preventing gut leakiness by oats supplementation ameliorates alcohol-induced liver damage in rats. PMID: 11602653
Keshavarzian A, Choudhary S, Holmes EW, Yong S, Banan A, Jakate S, Fields JZ.
Only 30% of alcoholics develop liver disease (ALD) suggesting that additional factors are needed. Endotoxin is one such factor, but its etiology is unclear. Since the gut is the main source of endotoxin, we sought to determine whether an increase in intestinal permeability (leaky gut) is required for alcohol-induced endotoxemia and liver injury and whether the gut leakiness is preventable. For 10 weeks, rats received by gavage increasing alcohol doses (to 8 g/kg/day) and either oats (10 g/kg) or chow b.i.d. Intestinal permeability was then assessed by urinary excretion of lactulose and mannitol. Liver injury was evaluated histologically, biochemically (liver fat content), and by serum aminotransferase. Alcohol caused gut leakiness that was associated with both endotoxemia and liver injury. Oats prevented these changes. We conclude that chronic gavage of alcohol in rats is a simple experimental model that mimics key aspects of ALD, including endotoxemia and liver injury, and can be useful to study possible mechanisms of endotoxemia in ALD. Since preventing the gut leakiness by oats also prevented the endotoxemia and ameliorated liver damage in rat, our results suggest that alcohol-induced gut leakiness 1) may cause alcohol-induced endotoxemia and liver injury and 2) may be the critical cofactor in the 30% of alcoholics who develop ALD. Further studies are needed to determine whether ALD in humans can be prevented by preventing alcohol-induced gut leakiness, studies that should lead to the development of useful therapeutic agents for the prevention of ALD.









That website did seem a little biased toward enzymes, but the information is still useful. I think people need to try enzymes and see if they actually work. I will probably try them after I try betaine HCL, since I already bought it. I don't know if oats would actually heal the gut, since some people are intolerant to grains. At least the website gives me an excuse to keep eating oatmeal.

[alternativista]

^That leaves out lectins in wheat and other gluten containing foods that make holes in the intestinal linings. Also, the lectins in soy, peanuts and kidney beans have been found to to the same. And according to an article I recently found, potatoes and rice contain some lectins that function similarly to those in wheat/gluten.

Edited by alternativista, 02 January 2012 - 09:41 AM.