Metabolic Endotoxaemia
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
A state of chronically elevated blood levels of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), typically caused by increased intestinal permeability. First described by Cani et al. (2007), it is linked to low-grade systemic inflammation and is proposed as a mechanism connecting gut dysbiosis to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Related terms
Endotoxin
A toxic component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, released when the bacteria die. The most common endotoxin is lipopolysaccharide (LPS). When endotoxins cross a compromised intestinal barrier into the bloodstream, they trigger systemic inflammation — a process called metabolic endotoxaemia.
Intestinal Permeability
The property of the intestinal lining that controls what passes from the gut into the bloodstream. Increased permeability (sometimes called "leaky gut") allows harmful substances to enter circulation, triggering immune responses.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
A component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. When LPS enters the bloodstream through a compromised intestinal barrier, it triggers inflammation — a key mechanism linking gut health to systemic disease.