At AEON, we’re all about the power of a super-healthy gut! In our investigations to uncover all things to do with healthy digestion, leaky gut and immune health, we’ve discovered something new and interesting: zonulin.
We should say it’s actually not all that new. Alessio Fasano is a gastroenterologist and researcher with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and in 2000 his team discovered zonulin.
Basically, zonulin is a specialized protein that appears to modulate the permeability of the tight wall junctions between the cells of the intestine. In the case of conditions like Type 1 diabetes or celiac disease, the body may produce excess ZOT, or zonula occludens toxin which in turn decreases the production of zonulin in the GI Tract. Lower zonulin levels have then been associated with impaired gut health and function.
Let’s take a closer look at what tight junctions are. Their official name is zonula occludens/zonulae occludentes (singular/plural) or less formally, “occluding junctions.” Composed of many separate protein units, these complexes work hard to stop any leaking when water, nutrients and other materials are transported around the gut lining.
These tight junctions form tiny pathways between the intestinal wall cells, but these pathways are selective – they allow only certain materials to penetrate the intestinal walls, for example necessary ions, water or minerals.
How does this work then the gut is “leaky”? A leaky gut describes the situation in which the tight cell junctions are weakened by excess production of the ZOT toxin. Once compromised this way, the gut lining then allows dangerous toxins to leak into intestinal wall and then the bloodstream, causing a host of problems. An unhealthy gut is one where the levels of zonulin are too low, and the junctions are no longer tight and functional.
A leaky gut can manifest as digestive dysfunction, and it’s a condition associated with things like Crohn’s disease, IBS, food allergies and sensitivities, and celiac disease, but also with non-digestive conditions like metabolic damage and Type 1 diabetes.
On top of al this, leaky gut can have other wide-ranging symptoms. The condition has been connected with a variety of different autoimmune problems such as multiple sclerosis and lupus, fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue, allergies of all kinds, acne, asthma, obesity and even in some cases mood disorders like depression and anxiety.
Digestive dysfunction can affect sop many parts of the body – and AEON can help with all of them! Being a 100% natural fulvic and humic acid health supplement, AEON has been found to offer plenty of benefits for those battling leaky gut problems. It’s a simple change that can make an enormous difference – to your gut and your total wellbeing.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonulin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tight_junction
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/leaky-gut-syndrome#1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC152047/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/leaky-gut-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you-2017092212451
