Digestive Disorders & Other Complaints in Los Angeles, CA
Digestive disorders are among the most common reasons people seek medical care, yet many patients live with symptoms for years without an accurate diagnosis or effective treatment. Standard testing often focuses on structural disease while missing functional problems. At LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition, we combine advanced diagnostics with functional medicine assessment to identify and treat both digestive disorders and the systemic symptoms they can cause.
Request an AppointmentCommon Digestive Disorders We Treat
- Acid reflux and GERD
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Food sensitivities and intolerances, including lactose and fructose intolerance
- Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity
- Dysbiosis and candida or yeast overgrowth
- Constipation and chronic diarrhea
- Bloating and excess gas
- Malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies
- Increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
- Diverticular disease
See our Conditions and More Conditions pages for additional information.
How Digestive Problems Cause Symptoms Throughout the Body
The gut is connected to every system in the body. Because the intestinal lining controls what enters the bloodstream, digestive dysfunction can lead to inflammation, immune activation, and nutrient deficiencies that cause seemingly unrelated symptoms:
- Brain and nervous system: brain fog, headaches and migraines, anxiety, low mood, and memory problems
- Whole-body symptoms: chronic fatigue, joint and muscle pain, skin problems such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis, and hormone imbalances
- Immune symptoms: recurrent infections, allergies, autoimmune activity, and chronic inflammation
Why Standard Testing Can Miss Functional Disorders
Conventional gastroenterology is excellent at finding structural problems such as polyps, ulcers, and tumors. However, a normal colonoscopy or endoscopy only means no structural disease was found. It does not evaluate dysbiosis, food sensitivities that standard allergy tests miss, malabsorption, intestinal permeability, or digestive enzyme insufficiency. Our functional evaluation fills those gaps.
Our Comprehensive Digestive Assessment
Conventional assessment: detailed symptom history, physical examination, standard laboratory tests, and endoscopy, colonoscopy, or capsule endoscopy when indicated.
Functional assessment: comprehensive stool analysis, food sensitivity testing, microbiome composition analysis, intestinal permeability assessment, digestive enzyme evaluation, breath testing, and micronutrient testing.
Integration: your physician combines all findings into a complete picture of your digestive health, identifies the specific contributing factors, and creates a targeted plan.
Your Digestive Recovery Plan
Depending on your results, your plan may include dietary changes to remove triggers, therapeutic digestive diets, antimicrobial protocols for dysbiosis or SIBO, probiotic and prebiotic support, intestinal barrier repair, digestive enzyme support, targeted nutraceutical supplements, stress management, and medication when appropriate. This approach reflects our functional medicine philosophy and is coordinated with our nutritional services.
Digestive Disorders FAQs
Can digestive problems cause symptoms outside the gut?
Yes. Gut dysfunction can contribute to fatigue, brain fog, headaches, joint pain, skin conditions, mood changes, and immune problems.
Why were my previous tests normal if I still have symptoms?
Standard tests rule out structural disease but do not assess microbiome balance, food sensitivities, malabsorption, or intestinal permeability, which are common causes of chronic symptoms.
What is leaky gut?
Increased intestinal permeability, often called leaky gut, occurs when the intestinal lining becomes more permeable, which may allow inflammatory triggers into the bloodstream.
What is dysbiosis?
Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the types and amounts of microorganisms in the gut. It can cause bloating, irregular bowel habits, inflammation, and other symptoms.
Do you treat IBS?
Yes. We evaluate IBS by looking for underlying causes such as SIBO, dysbiosis, food sensitivities, and stress, then create a personalized plan.
What should I bring to my first visit?
Bring prior records, test results, a list of medications and supplements, and a symptom timeline. Completing our forms in advance is also helpful.
Get to the Root of Your Digestive Symptoms in Los Angeles, CA
If you have been living with digestive or unexplained whole-body symptoms, call LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition at (310) 289-8000 to schedule a comprehensive digestive assessment.