What To Know About Testing For Leaky Gut Syndrome Leaky gut syndrome, or LGS, causes a wide variety of symptoms such as skin rashes, brain fog, constipation, diarrhea, and food sensitivities. Since these symptoms are also caused by other medical conditions, it is often difficult to pinpoint leaky gut as the cause of your problems. If you suspect you have LGS, talk to your doctor about being tested. He or she may recommend the lactulose/mannitol urine test. Here is some information about how it works. Testing Intestinal Permeability The lactulose/mannitol urine test uses two types of sugars to determine the permeability of your gut. Lactulose molecules are large and mannitol molecules are small. When you take this test, you drink a solution that contains a specific amount of each type of sugar. Your doctor may give you the sugar packet to take home so you can mix the solution to drink several hours before you go to the lab for the test. You may also need to follow orders for what you can eat and drink before and after taking the sugar solution. You then provide a urine sample that is analyzed for levels of each type of sugar. Interpreting The Results By using two sizes of molecules in this test, the doctor gets a general idea of the size of particles that can pass through your intestinal lining and …show more content…
Instead, your doctor looks at the test results as well as your medical history and symptoms to come up with the diagnosis. This may also entail ruling out other medical conditions such as irritable bowel disease or gluten sensitivity. Since a diet low in inflammatory foods is one treatment for leaky gut, your doctor may even recommend you begin this treatment for LGS if the condition is suspected. If you improve with dietary treatment, it could be a positive sign that helps your doctor make the final diagnosis of leaky gut