High zonulin means more than leaky gut
Zonulin modulates the intercellular tight junctions of the gut and can be measured in stool testing. These junctions prevent pathogens and undigested food from entering the blood stream and rest of of the body, where they don't belong.
But according to 2011 research, zonulin is involved in much more i.e. it’s involved in the 'trafficking of macromolecules and, therefore, in tolerance/immune response balance'.
What does this mean?
It means that when this protective zonulin pathway is dysregulated, 'both intestinal and extra-intestinal autoimmune, inflammatory, and neoplastic disorders can occur'.
In other words, autoimmunity, inflammation (involved in most diseases) and tumours can result. These are important reasons why testing and eradicating pathogens in the gut – which can cause dysregulated zonulin – are vital for good health.
The paper goes on the say that zonulin involvement has been proven in
Coeliac disease - autoimmune
Type 1 Diabetes
Other disease where zonulin may play a role include
Asthma
Multiple Sclerosis
Glioma
Inflammation
IBD
Autoimmune disease
Nervous system disease
Tumours
Testing zonulin along with other gut markers can be key to restoring gut health, immunity, mood and wellbeing.