Long COVID Atlas
Text Theme
Note

Plain-language first, with specialist detail below. For understanding, not medical advice.

Long COVID Atlas › Glossary › Intestinal permeability

Microbiome

Intestinal permeability

https://longcovidatlas.org/glossary/intestinal-permeability

In plain language

What it is

How easily the gut wall lets things pass; when it loosens, microbial bits leak into the blood.

Why it matters

A leaky barrier keeps the immune system inflamed and links the gut to body-wide symptoms.

Think of it like

A border fence with gaps that lets the wrong things through.

From gut to whole body dysbiosis: fewer butyrate-making bacteria, more pathobionts intestinal barrier loosens (leaky gut) microbial bits (LPS) cross into the blood systemic inflammation -> fatigue, brain fog,disrupted vagus signaling
A healthy gut wall is sealed and fed by bacteria that make butyrate. After COVID those bacteria can stay depleted while the barrier loosens. Microbial fragments then leak into the blood and keep the immune system on alert. This gut-to-body loop is one proposed route from the intestine to fatigue, brain fog, and disturbed signaling along the vagus nerve.

For specialists

Formal definition

Loss of tight-junction integrity allowing microbial translocation; markers include zonulin, LBP, beta-glucan, and I-FABP.

Mechanism

Translocated microbial products drive systemic inflammation; markers are imperfect and results vary.

Sources

Related terms

Gut dysbiosis