What is Leaky Gut? Could you be suffering from this condition?

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Leaky gut syndrome has gained some considerable attention in the health industry, despite still not being entirely recognized by many medical professionals. Leaky gut is the generic term for an abnormally increased intestinal permeability, a medical term for “small holes in the intestines”. This condition results in an abnormal amount of absorption of materials that should not otherwise pass through the intestines and into the bloodstream. Some of the substances that make it through the intestinal barrier may include bacteria, antigens, food particulates and inflammatory mediators which can lead to a host of potential problems. Malabsorption of minerals is another sequele of this condition.  Untreated and undetected leaky gut may be responsible for some acute and chronic health conditions.  Some of the more common conditions linked to leaky gut include:

  • autoimmune diseases
  • diabetes
  • cardiovascular disease
  • multiple bowel-related problems (IBS, IBD)
  • weight gain
  • psychological conditions
  • joint problems

Causes of leaky gut are multi-factorial. Daily stress, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol consumption, cow’s milk intolerance, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, pancreatic insufficiency and intestinal infections are all potential sources of inflammation. It becomes quite apparent that intervention is paramount in these cases in order to break the cycle, restore gut health and ideally result in resolution of the associated conditions present.

Assessment strategies for leaky gut syndrome appear to be open to interpretation at the present time. It is largely a diagnosis that is made clinically through the presence of some key indicators.

These key indicators are symptoms such as:

  • bloating
  • gas
  • constipation
  • diarrhea
  • fatigue
  • headaches to name a few.

When a patient presents in my office, I am sure to assess their medical and social history, dietary habits and medication use as these areas can provide keen insights into presence and severity of the condition. Additional assessment tools that are often used to assist in diagnosis are the IgG food intolerance test and the urinary indican test. The indican test is an indicator of intestinal toxemia and  bacteria. Normally urinary indican should be quite low, where elevated levels can signify maldigestion and malabsorption of protein. Keeping in mind that other conditions can raise urinary indican levels such as hypochlorhydria, stomach cancer, insufficient digestive enzymes, malabsorption syndromes, SIBO, intestinal obstruction. If it is high in the correct context without more severe pathology present, it can be a useful indicator of a leaky gut.

IgG food intolerance testing is another popular and widely consumed test that measures the immune system activity in response to the presence of certain foods in the diet.  IgG, commonly associated with type 3 hypersensitivity reactions, is a chronic inflammatory marker that can provide insight into how much and what types of foods are triggering an inflammatory response.   When removing foods that test strongly positive on IgG testing, one is removing an agent directly contributing to inflammation, whether it be the initial cause or a contributing factor.    Once an IgG food intolerance testing has been ordered and adequately interpreted,  guidance can be more uniquely tailored to the individual patient.  These tests can measure up to 220 types of food antigens present in blood as well as the degree of the inflammatory response elicited. It can be a valued assessment tool as previously discussed and also be used to construct unique diet plans.

The typical leaky gut protocol is one that is rich in antioxidants, fiber, mucosal nutrients, fermented foods, is balanced and avoids food sensitivities. If you think this approach will benefit you, reach out for more information. Happy to help you restore your gut and life!

In good health,

Dr. Jennifer Cisternino, Naturopath

416-301-3477

[email protected]

Infertility- A guide to understanding the condition and what options you have

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In this blog, I would like to address an increasing health concern in today’s modern world, infertility. I would like to share some of the latest research and outline some common questions my patients have. If you and your partner are having difficulty conceiving, know that there is help and being informed of the many options is a great start.

What is infertility?

According to the World Health Organization, infertility is a disease of the reproductive system defined by a failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse (Zegers-Hochschild et al., 2009).

Is infertility a common problem?

Infertility is a major problem in modern society and recurs in as much as 20–30% of the fertile female population. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports up to 80 million women world-wide having been affected by this disease to date, with a prevalence of ∼50% of all women in developing countries. (Sylvestris et. Al, 2019)

Is infertility just a woman’s problem?

Infertility is not just a woman’s problem, although most women are the one’s seeking medical care initially. Male infertility accounts for about 40 – 50% of infertility in a couple. Male infertility is a situation where a man is unable to get a fertile woman pregnant after at least one year of consistent unprotected sex. (Onwuli et al, 2014)

What causes infertility in men?

Male infertility is commonly marked as deficiencies in the semen and semen quality. In most fertility tests, the volume, total sperm count and sperm motility are often measured. Infertility affects about 8-12% of the world’s population, and in half of the cases, men are either the single cause or contribute to the couples infertility. (Onwuli et al. 2014)

What increases a man’s risk of infertility?

Some factors that may reduce the quality of sperm cells include the consumption of heavy alcohol, use of certain drugs, cigarette smoking, hormonal imbalance, treatment with certain chemotherapy for cancer, advanced age and environmental toxicants, such as pesticides and heavy metals, which may act as endocrine disruptors. (Onwuli et al. 2014)

What causes infertility in women?

The most common causes for female infertility are smoking, alcohol, irregular ovulation, PCOS, following a high glycemic diet with low nutrients, excessive caffeine, endometriosis, a history of pelvic infection, advanced maternal age, stress and toxicity.

I would say that unabated stress results in high adrenaline and cortisol levels. This leads to other imbalances in the body- hormones and nutrients alike.

Drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, smoking tobacco and alcohol intake have been shown to have adverse effects on all aspects of reproduction, from conception to labour to delivery. Smoking causes significant increases in miscarriage and prematurity. Women who are smokers are less successful with fertility treatments of all kinds than are non-smokers. (Silvestris et al, 2019)

Exposure to environmental pollutants is another large risk factor. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) postulated that long-lasting exposure to chemical agents as organic solvents, heavy metals, aromatic amines, pesticides and vegetal toxins is related to reduced fertility and recurrent miscarriages. (Silvestris et al, 2019)

How will a naturopathic doctor find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems?

Most people who I see and treat have already been given a diagnosis of infertility and usually come in with a battery of lab tests run through their fertility doctors. Nevertheless, it is important that a thorough medical history be attained for both male and female patients. Questions pertaining to current lifestyle attitudes including sleep, diet, stress, sexual history, menstrual history etc. needs to be understood. Additional ways I assess their health may be through testing of hormone levels through blood or saliva, including estrogen, progesterone, LH, FSH and thyroid hormones.

Commonly, I see many patients who are unsure of the reason they cannot conceive as everything seems to check out fine with medical doctors and so are given a diagnosis of “infertility of unknown cause”. This provides alternative practitioners a great opportunity to address other areas of one’s health that may have been missed or dismissed all together as a barrier to fertility.

How do Naturopathic doctors treat infertility?

The “conventional” management of infertility generally focuses on the body as a hormonal machine and in large part ignores the psychological, emotional and nutritional aspects of one’s health. Here is where alternative therapies are finding their place and for good reason. When the focus in primarily on the pharmacological treatments and technologies currently available for fertility without much concern for the hearts and spirits of those patients, the results can leave a lot of people feeling devastated. I believe that it is extremely important to treat the “whole person” and listed below are some ways I do that.

Counseling: I can’t emphasize enough the importance of really hearing and understanding my patients. This can be a very difficult and stressful time in their lives. Providing emotional support and a place where they can express their fears, hopes and dreams is important. Several studies show that when emotional stress is resolved, pregnancy rates go up.

Hormonal Balance: When assessing for hormonal balance there are many ways to do so either through urine, saliva or blood. In all my years of clinical practice, I have come to trust that when you combine the healthy merits of a balanced diet, stress management and moderate exercise, the body begins to restore hormonal balance.

Nutritional Support: Most infertile patients that I have helped were very minerally depleted and so beginning a prenatal for women with adequate folic acid is important. For men, a multivitamin in addition to vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and zinc in the right doses may help in sperm production.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: More research is shedding light on the positive effects of omega 3 fatty acids in both female and male infertility. The effects of DHA and EPA on sperm parameters including total sperm concentration, sperm motility, seminal plasma DHA and sperm DHA have been evaluated in infertile men. Results of the meta-analysis showed that supplementing infertile men with omega 3 fatty acids improved sperm motility and DHA in seminal plasma.  (Hosseini et.al, 2019)In a study byNehra et. al where they evaluated women of advanced maternal age, a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids showed an effective avenue for delaying ovarian aging and improving oocyte quality.Highlighting the importance of omega 3 supplementation with my patients is essential, not only in conception but also throughout the pregnancy and beyond as it helps with neurological and brain development.

Detoxification and elimination of toxic exposure: In my office my patients usually order a hair mineral and heavy metal test which is key in highlighting toxicity, and as the research states, this is very important to address as it can be a barrier to fertility. Proper detoxification of heavy metals must occur and retesting to show complete elimination from the body prior to conceiving is important.

Acupuncture:  Acupuncture can also help a couple conceive depending on the reason for infertility.I have had some success in treating infertility with acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture can help a patient to lessen stress which can aid in hormonal balance and it can also improve uterine blood flow in the female.

Dietary suggestions: It is important to understand what type of diet my patient is following. Removing refined sugars and eating a low glycemic diet is best. In addition, following an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits and vegetables is also effective. An IgG Food Sensitivity Test is usually ordered here if I suspect food sensitivities and impaired digestion.

Exercise: For some couples, weight loss can do great things for the hormonal system. If you or your partner are overweight, counseling around weight loss and exercise is important and can make the difference, especially in women who have PCOS and other ovulatory disorders.

Keep in mind that each patient and couple will differ in their reasons for infertility. This is not a “one size fits all”. Booking an appointment to better understand your particular health reasons is always best.

Thank you for reading. Reach out for further help.

Much love,

Dr. Jen Cisternino, Naturopath

416-301-3477