Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth(SIBO)
The term "small intestinal bacterial overgrowth," or SIBO, refers to an overabundance of bacteria in the small intestine or small bowel. The small intestine has relatively low amounts of bacteria in a healthy system; the colon is thought to have the highest concentrations of bacteria, even though bacteria normally reside throughout the whole digestive tract.
The digestive tract's longest segment is the small intestine. The nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream at this point as the food mixes with the digestive fluids. Nutrient malabsorption, especially of iron and fat-soluble vitamins, can quickly develop into a problem if SIBO is suspected.
The bacteria in the colon aid in food digestion and the body's absorption of vital nutrients when they are in a healthy balance. But when bacteria intrude and gain control of the small intestine, it can result in poor nutrient absorption, symptoms that are frequently connected to IBS, and it might even cause harm to the stomach lining.
When you have SIBO, the bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine prevents food from being properly digested and absorbed. The SIBO-related bacterium eats some of the foods and nutrients, which causes uncomfortable SIBO symptoms like gas, bloating, and pain.
Symptoms:
The signs of SIBO are similar to those of IBS and other gastrointestinal conditions. There is a clear correlation between IBS and SIBO, which is why the symptoms are similar, according to a study that was published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. Before making a definite diagnosis of IBS, doctors are advised by researchers to investigate eliminating SIBO.
Typical signs of SIBO and IBS include:
Nausea, Bloating, Vomiting, Diarrhea, constipation, Malnutrition, Weight loss, Joint pain, Fatigue, Rashes, Acne, Eczema, Asthma, Depression, Rosacea, Mood swings, chronic fatigue, anxiety, low B12 and Ferritin, and Food Intolerance.
Best Methods for SIBO Testing:
The breath test is the standard method, but it's challenging to administer and carry out. A 12-hour fast, breathing into a tiny balloon, consuming a specific amount of sugar, and repeating breath samples every 15 minutes for three or more hours are all required of the participants. Additionally, abnormal breath tests may indicate celiac disease and pancreatic insufficiency.
Organic Acid Test: This straightforward urine examination looks at many metabolic indicators. It will check for toxicity problems, oxalate malabsorption, mitochondrial problems, neurotransmitter disturbances, and B vitamin deficiencies. Additionally examined by this test are urine indicators of bacterial and yeast overgrowth.
Comprehensive Stool Analysis: This lab test for functional medicine also examines the large intestine's flora. Although it is not conclusive, I assume SIBO if I find all high amounts of both beneficial and/or bad bacteria in the stool.
Risk factors and the causes
A number of underlying diseases are thought to be involved in the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. These include age, intestinal lymphoma, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, diverticulosis, a structural flaw in the small intestine, injury, fistula, dysmotility, and scleroderma.
SIBO is also more likely to occur in those who take specific drugs, such as immune system suppressants, proton pump inhibitors, immune system diseases, recent stomach surgery, and celiac disease. Due to the disruption of gut motility caused by celiac disease, the functioning of the small intestine can be compromised.
A study that appeared in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that 66% of celiac disease sufferers who strictly avoided gluten had bacterial overgrowth. IN this trial, each patient received individualized care that included a change in diet, a course of antibiotics, and prescription drugs to treat worms and parasites. Following SIBO treatment, all patients reported an improvement in their symptoms.
Blind loop syndrome is another underlying factor contributing to SIBO symptoms. When the small intestine truly creates a loop, food can bypass some of the digestive tracts and get to this. Food moves through the system more slowly as a result, which encourages the growth of bacteria.
Certain gastrointestinal diseases are thought to be caused by or contributed to by metabolic illnesses, such as poorly managed type 2 diabetes. According to a study that was published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolism, 43 percent of diabetics with chronic diabetes had SIBO.
Another risk factor for small intestine bacterial overgrowth is getting older. The digestive system slows down as we become older. It is generally agreed that the prevalence of SIBO in non-hospitalized persons over the age of 61 is 15%, compared to a little under 6% in people between the ages of 24 and 59. Over 30% of older persons with disabilities have SIBO, according to a study that was published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
SIBO symptoms are also linked to rosacea, a skin disorder that produces rashes and redness on the face. Italian researchers from the University of Genoa's Department of Internal Medicine discovered that SIBO is substantially more prevalent in rosacea patients.
There is good news for patients who have rosacea because this study also shows "an almost full regression of their cutaneous lesions and maintained this outstanding result for at least 9 months" when SIBO is eliminated.
For many years, the term SIBO was utilized by the medical community as a catch-all for all IBS symptoms. The contrast between SIBO and Intestinal Methanogenic Overgrowth (IMO), which doesn't result from bacterial overgrowth but rather from excessive archaea levels, has just recently been made.
What Occurs If You Have IMO
The single-cell creatures known as archaea are larger than bacteria but have a different molecular make-up. They lack a nucleus as well. Methanobrevibacter Smithii and Methanosphaera Stadtmanae are the two archaea species found in the human gastrointestinal tract. The former has grown out of control more frequently.
The Methanobrevibacter Smithii bacteria tends to prevent the body from absorbing and using nutrients as fuel. Foods that your body would typically completely digest end up sitting on your digestive tract as a result. When something starts to deteriorate, the archaea begin to break down the carbohydrates that your body would typically use as sustenance. Your digestive system also releases methane gas as a result of this. Your enteric nervous system can be harmed by gas, which can also contribute to a leaky gut.
Breath Testing for IMO:
There are specific procedures you must follow while doing a breath test to ensure an accurate result in advance.
Getting ready for the breath test
You need to follow a strict diet for the 24 hours before to your test. You can only eat turkey, chicken, fish, and white rice that has been baked or boiled. Salt and pepper are the only seasonings that are advised.
Just before your test, you should observe a 12-hour fast. You should only consume water during this time and take prescription drugs as directed by your healthcare provider.
With your doctor's approval, stop taking any antibiotics or other antimicrobial medications.
You should also refrain from exercising, give up smoking, and abstain from consuming anything that can affect your bowel motions.
Your hydrogen levels will be positive if they are equal to or higher than 20 p.p.m.
Your methane reading indicating intestinal methanogenic overgrowth if it is less than or equal to 10 p.p.m (IMO). They might take a look at your hydrogen sulfide readings if the results of both tests are normal.
RESOURCES:
https://www.nature.com/nrneurol/
2022. NP. Malika Katrouche. All Rights Reserved.
