Gut problems seem to be higher than ever before in our society. People are struggling with bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, upset stomach, and many other digestive problems.
Now, one of the biggest gut problems that’s been talked about recently is “leaky gut syndrome”. Leaky gut refers to a weakening of the intestinal lining that eventually allows undigested food and other particles to get into the bloodstream.
This can not only lead to gut problems, but also other symptoms such as headache, mood swings, irritability, or even allergies and immune problems.
That’s why many people are looking for supplements to help support their gut health and fix this problem. And among the many supplements that are out there, in this article we’re going to go over our top four leaky gut supplements that can help get your digestive system on track once again.
Best Leaky Gut Supplements
We’ve reviewed many different gut health supplements. And our top four recommended supplements for leaky gut are:
- Bio Complete 3
- Ancient Nutrition Leaky Gut
- Seed Synbiotics
- Manna Pre + Probiotics
These choices were all based on the same factors, such as ingredient quality, proper doses, good practices for testing and safety, and overall effectiveness. Keep reading below to learn more about each supplement and find out which one is best for your unique considerations.
Bio Complete 3
Best Overall
Bio Complete 3 is a 3-in-1 gut health support supplement made by GundryMD. It is made up of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics to give your gut and digestive system the vital nutrients needed to support a healthy gut lining, digestive health, and total gut function.
In particular, the use of CoreBiome™ is a postbiotic that can help repair the gut lining to decrease leaky gut symptoms. Bio Complete 3 has a fully transparent label and is third-party tested for purity and safety. It costs $69.95 for 30 servings, but there are also bulk savings available.
Ancient Nutrition Leaky Gut
Best Value
If you don’t want to break the bank but still want a quality product, Ancient Nutrition Leaky Gut is a great choice. While they do use proprietary blends, the total dose is still pretty high. And there are many gut-supporting herbs to repair the gut lining, such as marshmallow root, astragalus, and lion’s mane.
They also include other gut-restoring nutrients such as glutamine and zinc, as well as probiotics for general gut health. The combo of ingredients in Ancient Nutrition Leaky Gut may promote a healthy gut lining while also reducing constipation, bloating, and other digestive symptoms.
It’s also one of the most affordable gut products out there at $29.95 for 30 servings. And that’s the highest possible price, as there are also many ways to save money.
Seed Synbiotics
Best for Total Wellness
Seed Synbiotics is a unique prebiotic and probiotic formula that has some of the best potential benefits for not just gut health, but overall health.
This formula contains 24 clinically-researched probiotic strains as well as a polyphenol-based prebiotic, which together support optimal gut microbiome health. Beyond better digestion and gut barrier function, Seed Synbiotics also may better skin, heart health, and all-around wellness.
Additionally, the capsules are specifically designed to survive digestion so they can reach the intestines for maximum benefits. Seed Synbiotic is decently priced too at $49.99 for 30 servings.
Manna Pre + Probiotics
Best Liquid
Manna Pre + Probiotics is our top choice for a liquid gut support supplement. This supplement contains 40 Billion CFU from 8 different probiotic strains. And they also added in inulin which is a powerful prebiotic. Together, these ingredients can support gut microbiome balance, improved digestion, and the health of your gut lining.
Also, Manna Pre + Probiotics stands out because it uses Nanofuse® liposomal technology, which can lead to up to 10x greater absorption compared to standard supplement forms.
The regular price is $49.95 for a one-month supply, but subscription savings are available too.
What are Leaky Gut Supplements?
In general, leaky gut supplements are any products that are designed to restore intestinal barrier function and overall gut health.
They often feature a mix of probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, herbs, and other compounds to support gut health and digestive function. These are all designed to work together to restore balance in the gut and reduce symptoms of leaky gut.
When it comes to leaky gut in particular, most supplements include ingredients that are specifically designed to repair the gut lining and enhance intestinal barrier function. This can be done through herbs such as marshmallow or slippery elm, postbiotics such as tributyrin, or even a number of nutrients such as glutamine and zinc.
Overall, these supplements are designed for people who have symptoms of leaky gut and who want to restore balance in their digestive system. They’re often targeted for people with bloating, indigestion, digestive discomfort, and other similar symptoms.
Benefits of Leaky Gut Supplements
There are several possible benefits of leaky gut supplements. While the exact benefits vary depending on the specific formula, most products offer a few (or all) of these benefits:
- Gut Lining Repair
- Enhanced Intestinal Barrier Function
- Reduced Digestive Symptoms
- Improved Gut Microbiome
Gut Lining Repair
Many of the leaky gut supplements are designed to repair the gut lining, which is one of the main causes of leaky gut. Probiotics, postbiotics, herbs, and other compounds in these formulas may be able to repair the gut lining and therefore prevent the various symptoms of leaky gut. This can take time to work though.
Enhanced Intestinal Barrier Function
Very similar to the above benefit, these gut supplements also are designed to enhance intestinal barrier function.
By supporting gut health and repairing the intestinal wall, they may be able to effectively regulate what substance can and can’t enter out into the bloodstream. And this may help to prevent harmful substances or undigested food from leaking out.
Reduced Digestive Symptoms
By repairing the gut, leaky gut supplements may also reduce digestive symptoms, such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach discomfort. Many of the ingredients in these products are designed to increase digestive power, such as probiotics, postbiotics, and various herbs.
Improved Gut Microbiome
Finally, leaky gut supplements have the potential to improve your gut microbiome. This is often due to the combination of prebiotics and probiotics, which may help to increase good bacteria in your gut while removing harmful bacteria.
Additionally, herbal extracts and other nutrient-rich compounds may promote a healthier gut microbiome and gut balance.
How to Choose the Right Leaky Gut Supplement
As gut health continues to rise in popularity, there are more and more gut health supplements being made. This is why it’s essential to know how to choose the right leaky gut supplements to make sure you’re getting a quality product.
First, it’s important to consider your goals and preferences. Some people may want a very basic formula, while others may want prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, herbal extracts, and other compounds all at the same time. One option isn’t necessarily better than the other; but you want to make sure you get what you’re looking for, as there is a lot of variety out there.
Regardless of what type of formula, it’s always important that the ingredients used are research-backed and properly dosed. Look on their website for any clinical references about the ingredients. We also have info on many supplements you may come across so we can always tell you if they have quality ingredients and solid doses too.
Fully transparent labels are generally better over proprietary blends. (although you’ve seen how in some cases it’s okay, such as with Ancient Nutrition Leaky Gut, if the overall dose is high enough and the ingredients have similar actions).
Another vital factor is safety. To that end, look for supplements that are third-party tested and that list out relevant info for allergies or dietary restrictions.
Additional Information (FAQ)
You may still have more questions about leaky gut supplements. And that’s why we’ve provided answers to some of the most common questions to make sure you’re able to choose a leaky gut supplement with confidence.
Do leaky gut supplements actually work?
This depends on the supplement. But as a general principle, yes, there are many ingredients out there that can help repair your gut and reduce leaky gut symptoms. The most well-researched ingredients for leaky gut are prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and herbs, such as marshmallow, slippery elm, and nutrients such as glutamine.
Also, understand that these take time to work. It will likely take at least a few weeks before seeing very noticeable effects.
Can I use diet to reduce leaky gut syndrome?
Yes. In fact, diet is one of the biggest causes of leaky gut syndrome. So you can tailor your diet in a way to potentially return back to normal gut health.
It is sometimes best to do an elimination diet where you get rid of all of the common triggers, such as dairy, gluten, nuts, eggs, seeds, and grains. Then, add in the foods one by one to see if they are triggers.
On top of that, it’s helpful to include anti-inflammatory foods such as deep-colored fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods that support a healthy gut lining, including bone broth and gelatin.
Who should use leaky gut supplements?
Leaky gut supplements should be used by anyone with symptoms of leaky gut, such as bloating, indigestion, upset stomach. Especially if these occur on a regular basis.
It may also be best when using these supplements alongside the leaky gut diet approach mentioned above.
Can I use leaky gut supplements with probiotics?
Yes. However, check the label because sometimes there are already probiotics included in the leaky gut formulas. So, it isn’t necessary unless you’re not getting them already.
Are there possible side effects?
Yes, there are always possible side effects. Some of the more common ones that may occur are (interestingly enough) bloating, gas, and digestive symptoms. These often go away as your gut gets used to the new ingredients.
Other possible side effects are allergic reactions (especially if herbs are involved) or sensitivities, as well as mild symptoms such as headache or dizziness.