health
Intestinal Permeability Increase (Leaky Gut)
Adverse effectIntestinal Permeability Increase, often called “leaky gut,” refers to greater-than-usual passage across the intestinal barrier. It describes a change in intestinal permeability, not a specific symptom or sensation by itself.
A clear introduction to Intestinal Permeability Increase (Leaky Gut) as a health topic, helping you understand what the term refers to.
These are research findings, not promises. Most options have little evidence, and results differ from person to person.
What can cause it
How likely each one is to cause it, most likely first.
Sea Moss (Irish Moss)supplementUnclear
Based on one study.
Open the Sea Moss (Irish Moss) page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What can cause it
Interventions reported to bring this on1 listedHighest probability
- →SupplementsSea Moss (Irish Moss)CertaintyLowSourceReference knowledge1 other source
Carrageenan, a component of sea moss, has been shown in some studies to increase intestinal permeability and promote gut inflammation, though human relevance is debated.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Intestinal Permeability Increase, often called “leaky gut,” refers to greater-than-usual passage across the intestinal barrier. It describes a change in intestinal permeability, not a specific symptom or sensation by itself. As a health topic, it is considered an adverse outcome rather than a beneficial effect.
How interventions help
Interventions associated with increased intestinal permeability differ substantially in timing and in what has been observed. Caffeine is the only intervention here examined in an acute controlled comparison. It was associated with a greater increase than placebo, with the increase observed after exercise. This indicates a short-term response, but does not establish how the finding applies to longer-term use or to people with a specified health status.
Dietary Fiber (Prebiotics) and Oregano Oil are represented by mentions in personal reports rather than a comparable intervention study. These reports do not establish a consistent onset, required duration, persistence after stopping, or whether either intervention reliably changes intestinal permeability. They also do not show that these interventions act in the same way as Caffeine.
Overall, these findings describe possible associations rather than a shared treatment pattern. The available information does not identify a dose or schedule for Dietary Fiber (Prebiotics) or Oregano Oil, while the caffeine observation is limited to an acute setting. Interpretation should therefore remain specific to the circumstances studied or reported, rather than generalized to continuous use or other populations.
Choosing guidance
Caffeine is the only listed option supported by a clinical trial for this outcome, and the finding was observed acutely rather than after a prolonged course. That makes it relevant when considering short-term effects, but less informative about repeated or long-term use. The population studied was not specified, so it is unclear how well the finding applies to particular health conditions or groups. There is also no direct comparison showing that caffeine is more or less suitable than the other options.
Dietary Fiber (Prebiotics) and Oregano Oil are represented by anecdotal reports rather than a controlled clinical study. Those reports may indicate that some people associated these options with the effect, but they do not establish when the effect appeared, how much was used, or whether the option caused it. There is therefore no comparable dose-and-duration basis for choosing either one for this outcome.
For readers prioritizing evidence from a clinical study, Caffeine is the only option with that type of information, while the applicability of its acute finding remains limited by the unspecified study population. Dietary Fiber (Prebiotics) and Oregano Oil are not well suited to evidence-based selection for this specific outcome because the available support is anecdotal and does not clarify timing, amount, or causation.