Leaky Gut
Zonulin
Zonulin is a protein that acts like a glue to keep intestinal cells bound together. Intestinal cells are supposed to be lined up and connected to each other. When Zonulin is high it means the cells aren’t tightly together. Leaky gut happens gradually over time. Zonulin can help identify the level of leaky gut. Leaky Gut has been associated with inflammation, an imbalance of healthy gut bacteria, and is a risk factor for food allergies and food sensitivities, such as a reaction to gluten.
Possible related symptoms of a Leaky Gut include:
- Digestive issues such diarrhea, bloating, constipation, weight loss, changes in appetite, gas
- Skin issues such as dry skin, hair loss, redness, rashes, scratching
- Chewing, licking, or gnawing paws and paw pads
- Normal: <6.6 ug/g
- Borderline: 6.5- 11 ug/g – May benefit from testing again in 3-6 months
- High: >11 ug/g – Associated with Leaky Gut. Treat and retest in 3 months
- Normal: <2.0 ug/g
- Borderline: 2.0-6.0 ug/g – May benefit from testing again in 3-6 months
- High: >6.0 ug/g – Associated with Leaky Gut. Treat and retest in 3 months
Treatment Options
Continue with current diet and lifestyle, retest in one year
- Probiotics have been shown to improve good gut bacteria and may improve Zonulin levels
- Consider multi-strain probiotics, spore-forming probiotics or Saccharomyces boulardii
- Consider a less processed food, such as a prescription or human grade food. If the antigliadin IgA is also high, consider a gluten free pet food
- Note: wheat, rye and barley all contain gluten
- Minimize anxiety and stress
- Avoid unnecessary medications such as antibiotics or exposure to toxins
- Check inflammation. Consider anti-inflammatory supporting snacks such as blueberries, alfalfa, apples (no seeds), carrots, pumpkin, red pepper), or anti-inflammatory supplements. Reducing inflammation may decrease Zonulin.
- Test level of fecal inflammation with IPL inflammation test
- Check overall health as obesity and type 2 diabetes may lead to increased inflammation
- Retest in 3 months.
Antigliadin IgA
Antigliadin IgA identifies an immune response to gluten and can let you know if your pet is eating gluten. Gliadin is a component of gluten. Your pet can only have a reaction to gluten if they are eating gluten. A reaction to gluten may be a contributing factor to Leaky Gut, skin conditions, or other symptoms. Removing gluten can reduce Antigliadin IgA and Zonulin levels. Antigliadin IgA reactions are based on the level of gluten eaten. Fecal Antigliadin IgA testing is not used to diagnose gluten or wheat allergy, or celiac disease.
Levels of Antigladin IgA
- Normal: <750 ug/g
- Borderline: 750-900 ug/g – Indicates a moderate reaction
- High: >900 ug/g – Highly reactive to gluten
- Normal: <600 ug/g
- Borderline: 600-1000 ug/g – Indicates a moderate reaction
- High: >1000 ug/g – Highly reactive to gluten
Intestinal Antibody Response to Gluten
Continue with current diet and lifestyle, retest in one year
- Try a gluten-free food and note a change in symptoms. (wheat, rye, and barley all contain gluten)
- Research recommends that test diets be fed for at least 10 weeks
- Monitor for intestinal permeability and increased Zonulin levels
- Retest in 3 months
References
- VCA Hospitals: Leaky Gut Syndrome in Dogs. www.vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/leaky-gut-syndrome-in-dogs
- Craig JM. Atopic dermatitis and the intestinal microbiota in humans and dogs. Vet Med Sci. 2016;2(2):95-105. Published 2016 Feb 23. doi:10.1002/vms3.24. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5645856/
- Grellet, A., et al., Influence of Breed Size, Age, Fecal Quality, and Enteropathogen Shedding on Fecal Calprotectin and Immunoglobulin A Concentrations in Puppies During the Weaning Period. J Vet Intern Med, 2016. 30(4): p. 1056-64.
- Xu, H., et al., Oral Administration of Compound Probiotics Improved Canine Feed Intake, Weight Gain, Immunity and Intestinal Microbiota. Front Immunol, 2019. 10: p. 666.
- Rossi G, Gavazza A, Vincenzetti S, Mangiaterra S, Galosi L, Marchegiani A, Pengo G, Sagratini G, Ricciutelli M, Cerquetella M. Clinicopathological and Fecal Proteome Evaluations in 16 Dogs Presenting Chronic Diarrhea Associated with Lymphangiectasia. Vet Sci. 2021 Oct 19;8(10):242. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8537460/