Leaky gut — primary driver

Leaky gut — primary driver

• A. SIBO causing excessive intestinal permeability
• B. Gluten exposure
• C. Excessive fiber intake
• D. Bile acid deficiency

Answer: (A)

Leaky gut is about the intestinal barrier becoming more permeable, so the question focuses on what most directly disrupts that barrier. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth drives this permeability by producing byproducts and toxins that inflame and irritate the lining, which weakens the tight junctions between epithelial cells. As these junctions loosen, larger molecules can pass from the gut lumen into the bloodstream, fueling further inflammation and symptoms. This direct effect on the barrier explains why SIBO is the best answer. Gluten exposure can increase permeability in susceptible individuals by triggering zonulin release, but this is more a condition-specific trigger rather than the general primary driver of leaky gut. Excessive fiber intake and bile acid deficiency don’t consistently or directly cause the barrier to become permeable in the same causal way as bacterial overgrowth does, so they’re not the primary drivers in the typical context.

Leaky gut is about the intestinal barrier becoming more permeable, so the question focuses on what most directly disrupts that barrier. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth drives this permeability by producing byproducts and toxins that inflame and irritate the lining, which weakens the tight junctions between epithelial cells. As these junctions loosen, larger molecules can pass from the gut lumen into the bloodstream, fueling further inflammation and symptoms. This direct effect on the barrier explains why SIBO is the best answer.

Gluten exposure can increase permeability in susceptible individuals by triggering zonulin release, but this is more a condition-specific trigger rather than the general primary driver of leaky gut. Excessive fiber intake and bile acid deficiency don’t consistently or directly cause the barrier to become permeable in the same causal way as bacterial overgrowth does, so they’re not the primary drivers in the typical context.