Figure 1:
A diagram showing the anatomy of the human gastrointestinal tract, where the villi are folds in the intestinal lining.²
Figure 2:
An illustration depicting the parts of the intestinal barrier including the mucosal layer, epithelium and lamina propria as well as the different antigens and particles that are blocked by this barrier.⁷
Figure 3:
An illustration of the three components (physical, immunological and chemical) that make up the intestinal barrier.⁸
Figure 4:
The diagram shows a normal, well-functioning intestinal barrier with healthy tight junctions on the left, and a leaky gut with faulty tight junctions on the right.⁹
Figure 5:
A diagram showing the various exogenous and endogenous factors that can affect the gut microbiota at the top of the image, while the types of diseases that dysbiosis and leaky gut syndrome can cause, are shown at the bottom.¹¹
Factors that support and degrade the intestinal barrier
Factors that support and degrade the intestinal barrier
Factors that support the intestinal barrier
Mucins³
Anti-microbial molecules³
Immunoglobulins³
Cytokines³
Factors that degrade the intestinal barrier
Alcohol consumption³
Gut dysbiosis³
Diet-derived compounds³
Factors that support and degrade the intestinal barrier
Factors that support the intestinal barrier
Mucins³
Anti-microbial molecules³
Immunoglobulins³
Cytokines³
Factors that degrade the intestinal barrier
Alcohol consumption³
Gut dysbiosis³
Diet-derived compounds³