Leaky gut syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a hypothetical condition promoted mainly by nutritionists and practitioners of alternative medicine, distinct from the genuine and scientifically recognized phenomenon of increased intestinal permeability that is sometimes informally called a leaky gut. Proponents of the syndrome claim that a leaky gut triggers chronic inflammation throughout the body and causes a wide range of unrelated conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and autism. Mainstream medicine does not recognize leaky gut syndrome as a distinct diagnosis, and there is little scientific evidence supporting the claims made for it.