Some alternative doctors and practitioners who have studied cases of autoimmune diseases, especially certain types of arthritis, believe that these conditions might be associated with a special kind of intestinal problem. They call the condition increased permeability or, more commonly, leaky gut. The theory proposes that if the walls of the intestines are leaky, molecules derived from incompletely digested foods or from bacteria are able to seep through the intestinal lining and get into the bloodstream. There, they set off an immune response that can result in immune cells going haywire, ultimately triggering attacks on the body s own cells. Whether or not this happens in some cases of lupus isn t certain, says Dr. No .
Tests are available that some experts claim can detect a leaky gut.
Dr. No says that she orders certain blood, urine, and saliva tests, for instance, to reveal if someone is having an immune reaction that could cause lupus . In addition to eliminating foods identified as contributing to the problem, such as wheat gluten, corn, and dairy products, Dr. No recommends nutritional supplements that nourish and rebuild the intestinal lining and restore good bacteria to the bowel. If there are enough good bacteria there, they will crowd out the bad types that can contribute to digestive problems. The following supplements are among those that Dr. No recommends. She suggests taking all of these two or three times a day between meals.