This article is about a proposed medical condition in alternative medicine. For the phenomenon ("leaky gut") whereby the intestine wall exhibits excessive permeability, see Intestinal permeability.
Stephen Barrett has described "leaky gut syndrome" as a fad diagnosis and says that its proponents use the alleged condition as an opportunity to sell a number of alternative-health remedies – including diets, herbal preparations, and dietary supplements.[5] Promoters of pseudoscience have claimed that the passage of proteins through a "leaky" gut is the cause of autism.[7] Evidence for claims that a leaky gut causes autism is weak and conflicting.[8]
Advocates tout various treatments for "leaky gut syndrome", such as dietary supplements, probiotics, herbal remedies, gluten-free foods, and low-FODMAP, low-sugar, and/or antifungal diets, but there is little evidence that the treatments offered are of benefit.[1]
None have been adequately tested to determine whether they are safe and effective for this purpose.[4] The U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) does not recommend the use of any special diets to manage the main symptoms of autism or leaky gut syndrome.[1]