Leaky gut and why it may be causing your lower back pain

28th August, 2025

Leaky gut, also known as intestinal permeability, is a common condition where the normally tight junctions between the cells lining your intestinal mucosa become weakened or broken. This leads to an increase in intestinal permeability, meaning that harmful toxins, bacteria, and undigested food particles can leak from the gut into the bloodstream.

Once these substances enter the bloodstream, they can trigger systemic inflammation and an autoimmune response contributing to a range of symptoms including chronic lower back pain.

Why Are Intestinal Mucosa Tight Junctions Broken?

  1. Chronic Inflammation: Long-lasting inflammation in the gut can damage tight junction
  2. Food sensitivities: Including gluten, lactose, and additives like emulsifiers as well as processed foods, excess sugar, and alcohol, can disrupt the gut lining by triggering immune and inflammatory responses that weaken tight junctions and increase intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)
  3. Stress: Physical and emotional stress release hormones that impair gut barrier function. High cortisol.
  4. Toxins and Medications: Exposure to environmental toxins, heavy metals, NSAIDs, and antibiotics can harm the gut lining
  5. Gut Microbiome Imbalance: An unhealthy balance of gut bacteria (dysbiosis) weakens the intestinal barrier
  6. Infections: Pathogenic microbes, parasites can directly damage the gut lining
  7. Nutrient Deficiencies: Lack of key nutrients like zinc, glutamine, and vitamin D can reduce the integrity of tight junctions

Leaky gut leads to systemic inflammation, immune overactivity, nerve sensitisation, and muscle dysfunction all of which create or worsen lower back pain. This connection highlights why treating only the back may not be enough if the root cause is a compromised gut barrier.

So how can a chiropractor help?

Muscle release techniques – Targeted soft tissue work helps reduce muscle spasms and tension in the lower back, improving comfort and mobility.

Spinal adjustments – Chiropractic adjustments to help restore spinal alignment and mobility, helping to improve communication between the brain and the body

Visceral release- The ileocecal valve is the junction where the small and large intestine connect. This junction often gets inflamed in individuals, specifically those with food sensitivities such as gluten intolerance. Releasing this area can reduce local inflammation and promote healthier gut function.

Nutritional support – Supplementing with nutrients and specific vitamins tailored to your needs to help repair and strengthen the gut lining, improving tight junction integrity.

Functional testing – If necessary a Comprehensive stool testing can assess gut microbiome balance, detect pathogens or parasites, and identify food sensitivities, allowing for targeted treatment strategies.

Lifestyle– Advice on diet, physical activity, and stress management will support overall gut health and recovery.

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