Intestinal permeability and small intestine bacterial overgrowth in excess weight adolescents

Abstract

Summary Background Increased intestinal permeability may be associated with certain disorders, such as obesity and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Objective This study aimed to investigate intestinal permeability and SIBO in excess weight adolescents. Methods This cross‐sectional study included 67 adolescents with excess weight and 66 normal weight adolescents. Excess weight was defined as a body mass index for age (BMI/age) > +1 SD, which includes having excess body weight and obesity. SIBO was diagnosed by a breath test after the ingestion of lactulose according to the production of hydrogen and methane. Zonulin (haptoglobin) was considered an indicator of intestinal permeability. Results Adolescents with excess weight had a higher height/age Z‐score (median [25th; 75th percentile]: +0.6 [−0.4; +1.0]) than those in the normal weight group (−0.1 [−0.6; +0.7]; P = .014). Zonulin (mg/mL) in the excess weight (2.3 [1.5; 3.8]) adolescents was higher than that in the normal weight (1.6 [1.0; 2.2]) adolescents (P < .001). SIBO was diagnosed in 23.3% (31/133) of the adolescents. The adolescents with SIBO had a lower (P < .05) BMI/age (+0.6 [−0.6; +1.9]) and height/age (−0.3 [−0.7; +0.3]) than the adolescents without SIBO (+1.3 [+0.1; +2.6] and +0.2 [−0.5; +1.0], respectively). No association was found between zonulin and SIBO. Conclusion Excess weight is associated with increased intestinal permeability. No relationship was found between SIBO and intestinal permeability; however, SIBO was related to lower BMI and height for age Z‐scores.

Recurrence of Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Surgery May Be Related to Intestinal Oxidative Stress and the Development of a Predictive Model

“…Gut microbiome imbalance has an important relationship with the development of fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis [16][17][18][19][20][21]. Recent studies have shown that intestinal microbes drive liver inflammatory stimuli through the "gut-liver axis" to accelerate liver carcinogenesis [22,23].In addition, gut microbiome can influence the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating the expression and accumulation of immune cells [24].…”

Impact of Biometric Patient Data, Probiotic Supplementation, and Selected Gut Microorganisms on Calprotectin, Zonulin, and sIgA Concentrations in the Stool of Adults Aged 18–74 Years

“…A significant correlation with zonulin serum levels was observed in the cases of BMI, age, and gender [ 80 , 81 , 82 ]. On the other hand, previous investigations examining the relationship between functional gastric disorders and ZON concentrations have shown both positive [ 83 , 84 ] and negative results [ 85 , 86 , 87 ], regardless of the type of test used.…”

Serum zonulin as an index of glucose dysregulation in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity

“…The serum zonulin assay has been considered as an easy to perform surrogate marker of dysfunctional intestinal barrier, suitable also in paediatric age. 10,11 Zonulin is a protein that reversibly controls intestinal permeability by regulating the binding between the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa. 4 Intestinal dysbiosis, characteristic of subjects who consume a high-fat and low-fibre diet, 12 stimulates the production of zonulin by the lamina propria of the intestinal epithelium.…”

“…Altered intestinal permeability is not easy to assess. The serum zonulin assay has been considered as an easy to perform surrogate marker of dysfunctional intestinal barrier, suitable also in paediatric age 10,11 . Zonulin is a protein that reversibly controls intestinal permeability by regulating the binding between the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa 4 .…”