Alpha-1 antitrypsin

Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protein made mainly in the liver that circulates in the blood. It is hardly broken down in the gut. It is measured in stool, often together with zonulin, calprotectin and secretory IgA.

What alpha-1 antitrypsin does in the body

Alpha-1 antitrypsin inhibits protein-splitting enzymes, especially the elastase of neutrophil immune cells, and thus protects tissue from self-digestion during inflammation. Because it passes through the gut unchanged, in stool it is a measure of how much blood protein leaks through the gut lining.

Low alpha-1 antitrypsin – what does it mean?

A low value in stool is the normal case and speaks against relevant protein loss through the gut lining. The stool value says nothing about inherited alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency – that is determined in blood.

Raised alpha-1 antitrypsin – what does it mean?

A raised value shows that more protein from the blood is reaching the gut – an indication of a more permeable or inflamed gut lining. This occurs with gut infections, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies and coeliac disease; blood in the stool can also raise the value.

The interpretation is given in your report.