Digestive disorders

1. Introduction

Digestive disorders are much more than just bloating or pain in the gut—they usually involve more than one organ and can lead to serious, long-lasting, and potentially deadly conditions. Maintaining a healthy and optimally functioning digestive system is essential for the proper function of virtually any part of the body.

• What is the digestive system? – In essence, the digestive system can be defined as a group of organs that work together to ingest, break down and process food into smaller components, allowing nutrients to enter the body.
• What are the parts of the digestive system? – the digestive system is composed of multiple organs that together form a long, twisting canal, starting at the mouth and ending in the anus. Some of the major organs of the digestive system include:
  • Oesophagus – this is a tube that connects the pharynx with the stomach. The primary function of the oesophagus is to transport food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach.
  • Stomach: The stomach’s primary function is to break down food into small molecules with the help of hydrochloric acid and enzymes.
  • Small Intestine – this organ can be divided into the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. The function of the small intestine is to process food into smaller components further and absorb nutrients and water from food.
  • Large Intestine – the large intestine can be divided into the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. The primary function of the large intestine is to advance the process of absorbing water and micronutrients. The large intestine also hosts the body’s largest store of microorganisms – the gut microbiota. These microorganisms further process undigested food, like fibre, and produce micronutrients like vitamin K and biotin.
• What are some common problems of the digestive system? – some of the most common diseases, pathologies and disorders affecting the digestive system involve infections, chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, physiological malfunctions, or genetic disorders.
• What are some symptoms associated with digestive system disorders? – a broad range of symptoms are associated with digestive disorders and pathologies of the digestive system. Depending on the organ affected, some common symptoms can include:
  • Abdominal pain – a common symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  • Nausea and vomiting – common symptoms of food poisoning, viral gastroenteritis, or IBD, among other conditions.
  • Bloating – a common symptom of IBS, GERD, lactose intolerance, and other conditions.
  • Diarrhea – a common symptom of IBS, IBD, food intolerances, and other conditions.
  • Heartburn – a common symptom of GERD, certain hernias and other conditions.
  • Rectal bleeding – a common symptom of haemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel disease, among other conditions.
  • Unintentional weight loss – a common symptom of celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Drivers of digestive disorders

There is a broad range of drivers or factors leading to the development of digestive system disorders, including:

1. Genetic factors—Multiple digestive disorders can be inherited, suggesting a genetic background. Mutations of certain genes, for example, can lead to malfunction of the immune system, which is associated with conditions like IBD or coeliac disease.
2. Physiological factors, such as
   • Altered intestinal permeability occurs when substances pass abnormally through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream. This can allow pathogens or toxins to enter the body.
   • Immune malfunctions occur when the immune system malfunctions. Some digestive disorders, including autoimmune stomach disorders like coeliac disease or IBD, are thought to be primarily caused by immune malfunctions.
3. Food intolerance/sensitivity occurs when a genetic and physiological malfunction prevents the normal processing of certain food components. A common example is lactose intolerance, where the most common cause is a faulty gene called LCT, which is in charge of producing lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose.
4. Hypochlorhydria occurs when there are abnormally low levels of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), significantly limiting the stomach’s ability to process food.
5. Gut Microbiota dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalance in the composition of gut microorganisms or gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is composed of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms. In recent decades, studies have shown that gut microbiota have important roles that contribute to the digestion of food, the production of vitamins, and the regulation of the immune system.
6. SIBO occurs when an abnormal growth of certain bacteria not commonly found in the small intestine occurs. This abnormal growth can lead to symptoms like pain, bloating, diarrhea, and more.
7. Environmental factors
   • Infections can be bacterial, viral, or parasitic and cause symptoms like diarrhea or abdominal pain.
   • Diet—A poor diet, such as one rich in sugar and processed foods and low in fibre and healthy fats, can lead to gut dysbiosis, poor nutrition, constipation, and many other health problems.
   • Lifestyle – beyond diet, several lifestyle choices such as levels of exercise, hydration, stress levels, smoking and alcohol consumption can all affect the digestive system.

3. Common Digestive Tract Disorders

Some common digestive tract disorders and associated symptoms include:

1. Celiac disease occurs when an autoimmune disorder is involved, which targets gluten, a protein from wheat. As a result of this autoimmune attack, cells from the small intestine are affected.
2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the lower oesophageal sphincter does not close properly, allowing gastric juices to enter the oesophagus.
3. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurs when a genetic fault (mutations in specific genes) leads to a malfunctioning immune system. IBD involves two pathologies, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which are thought to be caused by genetic factors. Associated symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain, stool blood, unintended weight loss, and more.
4. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition that affects the function of the large intestine. Symptoms associated with IBS include abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea and constipation.
5. Diverticulitis is caused by Inflammation or infection of small pouches found across the large intestine and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever, bloating, or constipation.
6. Microbial infections—These commonly involve infections from bacteria or parasites, which can lead to many different symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
7. Food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances – these can be caused by a genetic mutation in specific genes or physiological malfunctions in the body. As a result, people with these conditions experience adverse symptoms, depending on the condition. Food allergies, for example, can cause abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breading, and more.

In addition, other common digestive problems include bloating, altered stool frequency (diarrhea or constipation), heartburn, and abdominal pain.

4. Diagnosis of digestive tract disorders

Accurate diagnosis of digestive system disorders requires a comprehensive approach, not just a brief assessment of symptoms, as conventional medicine does (Table 1). At AUSCFM, we focus on identifying the root causes of digestive system disorders and all associated pathologies to build a complete picture of a patient’s digestive pathology.

At AUSCFM, our doctors will invest all the time and diagnostic resources needed to understand your health background, current symptoms, and the underlying drivers of your digestive disorder. Below, we describe the main steps followed at AUSCFM to diagnose your condition.

• As a first step, one of our doctors will assess your health history using comprehensive questionnaires that examine every aspect of your health and lifestyle.
• We build a comprehensive list of past and present symptoms, which we link to potential disease drivers.
• We also consider the medications and supplements a patient is currently taking or has taken in the past.
• We assess the potential influence of heavy metals, biotoxins, and other potentially harmful elements found in the environment.
• Finally, we evaluate a patient’s medical history to identify any evidence of allergies or immune reactivity to foods or other factors.

When a patient is suspected to have a digestive system disorder, we can prescribe one or more of the following diagnostic tests:

• Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test – this approach uses state-of-the-art clinical testing for the presence of antinuclear antibodies or ANA, which are a signature of autoimmune diseases. Patients with elevated levels of ANA are likely to have an autoimmune disease. However, this test alone cannot establish that you suffer from autoimmunity. Hence, additional tests are performed.
• Inflammatory markers—This approach relies on identifying markers of inflammation in the blood. The most common test used here is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (SR) test.
• Blood count abnormalities—Your AUSCFM doctor will use specific blood tests to check for evidence of anaemia (low red blood cells) or leukopenia (low white blood cells), two hallmarks of autoimmunity.
• Complete a thyroid panel—this approach will assess the health of your thyroid gland and test your levels of thyroid hormones and antibodies.
• Autoimmune serologies – this approach relies on testing the blood serum for markers associated with autoimmunity.
• Gluten antibodies—This approach relies on state-of-the-art blood testing that detects the presence of antibodies against gluten. Patients who test positive for this test may suffer from celiac disease or other related conditions and require further testing to confirm their condition. Follow-up testing may involve endoscopy or biopsies of the small intestinal tissue to confirm or rule out celiac disease.
• Blood count abnormalities—This approach involves testing for multiple aspects related to health, including liver and kidney function, heavy metal toxicities, and vitamin and mineral leve
• Gut testing—This approach uses stool samples to establish if you have an imbalance in the composition of your gut microbiome. Alterations to the optimal balance of your gut microbiome are strongly linked to a wide range of potential pathologies. This test can point to the presence of Gastrointestinal Inflammation, Dysfunction of the Gastrointestinal Tract, infections, and abnormal Intestinal Permeability (also known as leaky gut).
• Autoimmune reactivity test—This approach employs a state-of-the-art antibody-based test for the presence of 24 antigens associated with autoimmune conditions. Using this test, we can obtain evidence for the involvement of dozens of potential autoimmune diseases.
• Advanced imaging studies (X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI) would provide further evidence of damage to your GIT.

Table 1. Differences between conventional and functional medicine approaches.

5. Treatment of digestive disorders

At AUSCFM, we employ a holistic approach to treating digestive disorders. This is the key difference between the “conventional approach” and the Functional Medicine approach to health care (Table 1).

Based on our comprehensive diagnostic approach, we create a patient-centred digestive disease treatment plan that will tackle your condition from the inside out. Our ultimate goal is to resolve the underlying pathologies driving your symptoms so you can be restored to optimal health.

Our digestive disease treatment plan depends on your specific condition and may involve the use of the following:

• Medical-grade anti-inflammatories to reduce inflammation.
• Supplements that are specific for a particular digestive disease.
• Nutrition supplements to correct any micronutrient deficiencies.
• Botanicals or probiotics to normalise the balance of the gut microbiota.
• A personalised nutrition plan aims to restore your body’s optimal function.

At AUSCFM, you will be treated by doctors who have ample experience using high-quality dietary supplements and can prescribe the type and dosage that is right for you. Our doctors will also monitor your nutritional status with advanced testing approaches, ensuring your body has the nutrients it needs.

Our goal is to identify and treat the root causes of your digestive system disorders. Our comprehensive approach to digestive disorders also allows for the effective management of genetic-based diseases, such as autoimmune stomach disorders, for which conventional medicine offers little to no help.

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