How Long Does It Take To Heal Leaky Gut, Plus Tips For Treatment

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Nutrition

How Long Does It Take to Heal a Leaky Gut?

Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on February 3, 2023

Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Diets
Prevention
Seeking help
Outlook

Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, is not a recognized medical diagnosis. That said, the treatment depends on the underlying cause.

There’s limited clinical data about the leaky gut, including how long it takes to recover from it. But estimates can be made from research that has explored similar conditions.

For example, a 2005 study from the University of Manitoba studied people with celiac disease, which is often associated with intestinal permeability. Although researchers concluded more research is needed, the study indicated that intestinal permeability was normal for 87 percent of the participants after a year on a gluten-free diet.

Keep reading to learn more about leaky gut, including symptoms, causes, diet recommendations, and tips for prevention.

Is leaky gut real?

Your gut, also known as the gastrointestinal tract, includes over 4,000 square feet of intestinal epithelial lining that controls what gets into your bloodstream.

If unhealthy, this lining may be “leaky” with holes or cracks that allow bacteria, toxins, antigens, and partially digested food to penetrate the tissues beneath it.

That can trigger inflammation and changes in the gut flora (normal bacteria), which could lead to problems within your digestive tract and beyond.

Although leaky gut is not recognized by mainstream medical professionals as a condition, it’s generally recognized as a symptom.

According to a 2014 study, the proponents of leaky gut syndrome claim it can cause many health problems, including:

allergies
chronic fatigue syndrome
depression
fibromyalgia
skin disorders

Although not generally accepted as a cause by the medical community as a whole, damage to the intestinal epithelial lining has been associated with the following conditions:

celiac disease
HIV
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
multiple sclerosis
rheumatoid arthritis
type 1 diabetes

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of leaky gut may vary depending on the underlying cause. For example:

Celiac disease can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, bloating and gas, and weight loss.
IBD can cause abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and bloody stools.
IBS can cause abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, constipation or diarrhea, mucus in stools, and excess gas.

How to heal leaky gut

There are no FDA-approved treatments currently available specifically for leaky gut. The treatment recommendations you’re likely to receive from your doctor will be focused on the underlying condition they’ve diagnosed, which might include leaky gut as a symptom. For example:

If you’ve been diagnosed withceliac disease, following a gluten-free diet may help heal your gut.
If you’ve been diagnosed with IBD, anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, antibiotics, pain relievers, and supplements such as iron, calcium, and vitamin D may help the lining of your gut to recover.
If you’ve been diagnosed with IBS, anticholinergic medications, tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, antidepressants, antibiotics, pain relievers, or medications specifically for IBS (alosetron, lubiprostone, linaclotide) may help reduce your symptoms.

Are there diets that can help treat leaky gut?

Share on Pinterest

Your doctor may recommend adjusting your diet to remove inflammatory foods that could impact gut flora, such as:

processed foods
high-fat foods
high-sugar foods
foods that may trigger allergies or sensitivities, such as gluten or dairy
alcohol

They may also recommend a low FODMAP diet. This diet is often recommended in people with IBS, but it may help relieve some of your symptoms from leaky gut.

You may also want to try adding foods that contain probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics and prebiotics can help promote healthy bacteria in your gut. Some examples include:

kefir
kimchi
bananas
berries
probiotic yogurt

Tips for prevention

Taking self-care steps that promote overall digestive health may be the best way to protect yourself from leaky gut.

Increase your intake of high-fiber foods. The soluble fiber found in vegetables, legumes, and fruit support your gut’s beneficial bacteria, according to a 2016 study.
Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates. Too much sugar can negatively impact gut barrier function, according to a 2014 study.
Reduce your use of NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can increase intestinal permeability, according to a 2009 study.
Take probiotic supplements. The beneficial bacteria of probiotics are considered helpful for many gastrointestinal conditions, such as IBS, according to a 2009 study.
Reduce your stress levels. Gut bacteria can be harmed by chronic stress, according to a 2017 study.
Reduce your alcohol intake. Overindulging in alcohol may increase intestinal permeability, according to a 2014 study.
Quit smoking. Tobacco smoke may increase digestive tract inflammation and is a risk factor for a number of bowel conditions, according to a 2013 study.

When to seek help

See a doctor if:

Your abdominal pain is causing you concern.
Your abdominal pain lasts for more than a few days.
You experience persistent heartburn or heartburn that becomes increasingly severe.
You experience pain when passing stool.
Your discomfort interferes with your daily activities.

Seek emergency medical attention if you experience:

severe pain
severe abdominal tenderness when touched
fever
bloody stools
abdominal swelling
persistent nausea and vomiting

Outlook

Leaky gut — also known as increased intestinal permeability — is generally recognized as a symptom, not a condition, by mainstream medicine. Most clinical studies have focused on correlation as opposed to cause and effect, which makes it difficult to determine the amount of time needed to heal leaky gut.

The healing time will be based on the underlying condition, such as IBS or IBD, and the time it takes you and your doctor to get that condition under control.

Part of treatment will most likely include lifestyle changes, which are also suggested for reducing your risk of leaky gut. This can include:

eating a healthy diet
taking probiotics
limiting alcohol and NSAIDs
reducing stress
quitting smoking

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Biedermann L, et al. (2013). Smoking cessation induces profound changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in humans.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23516617
Bischoff SC, et al. (2014). Intestinal permeability - A new target for disease prevention and therapy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4253991/
Bjarnason I, et al. (2009). Intestinal permeability in the pathogenesis of NSAID-induced enteropathy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19148789
Campos M. (2017). Leaky gut: What is it, and what does it mean for you? https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/leaky-gut-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you-2017092212451
Duerksen DR, et al. (2005). Intestinal permeability in long-term follow-up of patients with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15844719/
Foster JA, et al. (2017). Stress & the gut-brain axis: Regulation by the microbiome.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29276734
Hoveyda N, et al. (2009). A systematic review and meta-analysis: Probiotics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19220890
The intestinal epithelial barrier: A therapeutic target? (2016). https://www.nature.com/articles/nrgastro.2016.169?WT.feed_name=subjects_small-intestine&foxtrotcallback=true
Klinder A, et al. (2016). Impact of increasing fruit and vegetables and flavonoid intake on the human gut microbiota.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757793
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353315
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Irritable bowel syndrome. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360016
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Abdominal pain: When to see a doctor. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/abdominal-pain/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050728
Mu Q, et al. (2017). Leaky gut as a danger signal for autoimmune diseases. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00598/full
Odenwald MA, et al. (2013). Intestinal permeability defects: Is it time to treat?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3758766/
Odenwald MA, et al. (2016). The intestinal epithelial barrier: A therapeutic target? https://www.nature.com/articles/nrgastro.2016.169?WT.feed_name=subjects_small-intestine&foxtrotcallback=true
Solan M. (2018). Putting a stop to leaky gut.https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/putting-a-stop-to-leaky-gut-2018111815289
Symptoms of celiac disease. (n.d.).https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/symptoms-of-celiac-disease/
Wang Y, et al. (2014). Effects of alcohol on intestinal epithelial barrier permeability and expression of tight junction-associated proteins.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24718485

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on February 3, 2023

How Long Does It Take To Heal Leaky Gut, Plus Tips For Treatment

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Nutrition

Is leaky gut real?

What are the symptoms?

How to heal leaky gut

Are there diets that can help treat leaky gut?

Tips for prevention

When to seek help

Outlook

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Leaky Gut Syndrome: Symptoms, Diet, Tests & Treatment

The Leaky Gut Diet Plan: What To Eat, What To Avoid - Healthline

Putting A Stop To Leaky Gut - Harvard Health

How To Heal Leaky Gut - Dr. Michael Ruscio, DNM, DC

7 Tips On How To Fix Your Leaky Gut: Functional Medicine Approach

Can A Leaky Gut Repair Itself? - Healthpath

10 Signs You Have A Leaky Gut—and How To Heal It - HealthyWomen

Leaky Gut Protocol & A Modified Elimination Diet - The Care Group

How To Fix Leaky Gut: 9 Natural Ways - BIOHM Health

Defining Leaky Gut Syndrome: Common Symptoms And ... - WebMD

Could You Have Leaky Gut? Help It Heal With Healthy Habits

How To Fix Leaky Gut, Naturally - BeBalanced® Centers

Repairing Leaky Gut - New Beginnings Health Care

Contact