Yes and no. Leaky gut has been linked to leaky gut formation, which makes a lot of sense when you consider the effect of pH on Candida. Remember that Candida is suppressed by the acidity of the intestinal flora, which turns off the Candida growth gene and keeps the Candida in a harmless yeast form. When the flora numbers are reduced the pH becomes more alkaline. The alkalinity turns the Candida growth gene on and converts the Candida in to its aggressive and pathogenic fungal form. In this fungal form the Candida forms hyphae, which are finger like projections that allows the Candida to dig in to and damage tissues such as the intestinal wall. Therefore Candida can cause leaky gut in its fungal form, which results from an alkaline environment, but not in its yeast form that it remains in if the terrain pH is acidic.
In same vein, can low HCL cause leaky gut syndrome?
yes/no?
No, the problem is going to result from damage and inflammation in the intestines itself. Although low or absent stomach acid can aggravate the condition by allowing undigested proteins to leak in to the bloodstream.