This is a single-marker test measuring zonulin. It is available as an add-on to the GI Effects® profiles.
What is the Add-On: Zonulin Test by Genova Diagnostics?
This stool test assesses for zonulin in the stool, which indicates intestinal inflammation and a leaky gut presentation.
What is the Clinical Relevance of the Add-On: Zonulin by Genova Diagnostics?
Assessing zonulin levels through a stool test holds significant clinical relevance, particularly in the context of gastrointestinal health and body-wide conditions related to intestinal permeability.
Zonulin is a protein that reinforces the tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells. Elevated levels of zonulin indicate increased intestinal permeability, often referred to as "leaky gut syndrome."
This happens when intestinal inflammation, commonly caused by intestinal dysbiosis and gluten sensitivity, causes the enterocytes to swell: this weakens tight junctions and allows zonulin to spill into the intestinal lumen.
Research suggests that elevated zonulin levels may be associated with various gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic conditions. By measuring zonulin levels in stool, healthcare providers can gain valuable insights into the integrity of the intestinal barrier and identify potential underlying factors contributing to gastrointestinal dysfunction and systemic inflammation. [5.]
Who Can Benefit from the Add-On: Zonulin by Genova Diagnostics?
Individuals Seeking to Optimize Health: even in the absence of symptoms, this test can offer insights into gut health, providing an opportunity for preventative measures against potential health issues and supporting the body’s natural processes.
Patients with Chronic Digestive Dysfunction: for those who have suffered from chronic symptoms with or without a clear diagnosis, the Add-On: Zonulin by Genova Diagnostics can help identify underlying food sensitivities or inflammation in the gut that may be contributing to their health issues.
Autoimmune Diseases: since gut health is closely linked to the immune system, identifying and addressing compromised gut barrier health can provide additional treatment options and provide crucial support in managing autoimmune conditions.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: for patients struggling with Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth (SIBO), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), this test can identify previously silent leaky gut that may be contributing to symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
Digestive Complaints: people experiencing unexplained digestive issues such as gas, bloating, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation can identify potential causes like leaky gut and receive targeted treatment recommendations.
Neurological and Cognitive Issues: the vagus nerve is the primary nerve that innervates the digestive tract, and is considered the “highway of the gut-brain axis”. Insights into the gut-brain axis through this Zonulin test may reveal how leaky gut impacts an individual’s cognitive function and affects memory, concentration, and brain fog.
Skin Conditions: conditions like acne and psoriasis have been linked to gut health. Identifying and addressing leaky gut can be a part of a comprehensive treatment plan to improve and restore skin health.
Mood Disorders: the gut-brain connection means that digestive inflammation can impact mood and emotional well-being, making this test a valuable assessment tool for individuals with these conditions.