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Reference Guide
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Indican
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Indican

What's 
Indican
?
Indican is a unique substance that's naturally produced in your body. It's a byproduct of the process your body uses to break down tryptophan, an essential amino acid found in many protein-rich foods. Once produced, Indican is excreted in your urine. The level of Indican in your urine can provide valuable insights into your body's digestive health, particularly the efficiency of your protein digestion and the balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.
If Your Levels Are High
High levels of Indican in your urine could suggest that your body might be having trouble breaking down protein efficiently. This could be due to a variety of reasons such as a diet high in protein, insufficient stomach acid, or a lack of digestive enzymes. It could also indicate an imbalance in your gut bacteria, possibly due to factors like prolonged use of antibiotics, which can disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your gut. Additionally, certain medications, like proton pump inhibitors used for heartburn, can affect protein digestion and potentially increase Indican levels. High Indican levels might also be seen in conditions like leaky gut syndrome or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), where the gut bacteria is out of balance.
Symptoms of High Levels
Symptoms of high levels of Indican could include bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, changes in bowel movements, and unexplained weight loss.
If Your Levels are Low
Low levels of Indican in your urine could suggest that your body isn't breaking down protein as efficiently as it should be. This could be due to a lack of certain beneficial bacteria in your gut that help with protein digestion. It could also be a sign that you're not consuming enough protein-rich foods. Certain medications, like antibiotics, can also affect your gut bacteria balance and potentially lower your Indican levels. Additionally, specific health conditions, such as malabsorption syndromes or liver diseases, could also result in lower Indican levels as these conditions can affect your body's ability to process and absorb nutrients, including proteins.
Symptoms of Low Levels
Symptoms of low levels of Indican may not be immediately noticeable. However, over time, individuals might experience signs of protein deficiency, such as fatigue, weakness, slow healing of wounds, and hair, skin, and nail problems. Symptoms related to gut health, such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, could also be present. In cases where low Indican levels are due to liver diseases or malabsorption syndromes, symptoms might include unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, and jaundice.

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