Everything you need to know about SIBO. Learn about causes, symptoms, how to know if you have SIBO, and more.
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is defined as the presence of excessive bacteria in the small intestine.
Usually, the majority of bacteria in our digestive system reside in the colon (large intestine). The small intestine is primarily responsible for nutrient absorption.
When abnormally high numbers of bacteria settle there, they can interfere with this process and cause various uncomfortable symptoms. These bacteria also consume the fermentable carbohydrates in our food, producing gas that causes bloating and pain.
Several factors can contribute to the development of SIBO. Here is a list of several possible causes:
SIBO symptoms can vary considerably from person to person. However, here are the most common symptoms:
In some cases, SIBO can also cause less specific symptoms such as:
There are different types of SIBO. SIBO is classified based on the predominant gas produced by excess bacteria in the small intestine. The type of SIBO may influence the predominant symptoms and potentially the treatment approach.
The main types of SIBO are:
There also are other types of SIBO because of multiple combinations that exist. For example, you may have a mixed SIBO (H2 + CH4) where several types of gas are produced in excess (hydrogen + methane) or a SIFO (Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth) which indicates the presence of Candida albicans. SIFO can be combined with SIBO (co-infection) and includes the same symptoms as SIBO: bloating, gas, food intolerances.
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The diagnosis of SIBO is primarily based on a hydrogen and methane breath test. This test measures the amount of hydrogen and/or methane exhaled after ingesting a sugar solution (usually lactulose or glucose). An early and significant increase in these gases suggests abnormal bacterial growth in the small intestine.
Caution: Depending on where you perform your breath test, the results may be inaccurate.
Indeed, some doctors will measure breath every 20 minutes for 3 hours (the most reliable method), while others will ask you to return 2 hours after taking lactulose, which is less accurate. Therefore, I recommend the lactulose test because glucose can produce “false negatives.” Ingestion of the glucose solution is absorbed in the proximal intestine (first portions of the small intestine) and not in the distal part of the small intestine.
You also have possibility to use a breath test kit. To do so, you need to order your kit from a lab that does it. In this way, you can perform your SIBO test at home and send it back to the lab for analysis.
First of all, you should know that SIBO treatment can take several cycles. This can range from one to four treatment cycles. This will depend on the quantity of bacteria present in your microbiota, but also on the effectiveness of the treatment based on your personal situation.
Important: You should be aware that treating SIBO comes at a cost and it may be more or less expensive (supplements, cycles, etc.) according to your specific situation. Even though SIBO treatment can be expansive It should be seen as an investment in your health.
First, the purpose is to relieve symptoms and reduce excessive bacterial proliferation
Second, take a treatment to kill bacterias causing your symptoms.
Third, repair the damage and adopt habits to be sure that SIBO never comes back
There are several treatment approaches for treating SIBO. These mainly include:
Conventional antibiotics are one of the treatments given by doctors. The problem is that SIBO cannot be cured in the same way as some other illnesses. Indeed, allopathic medicine is not suitable for treating SIBO. The treatment involves several phases and cannot be cured with a “magic pill.”
Although antibiotic therapy length is shorter than herbal supplements, antibiotics will eliminate all bacteria without distinction. You will “temporarily” no longer have SIBO, but you will also eliminate the bacteria positioned in the right place and risk to further damaging your microbiota.
Furthermore, antibiotics are a major cause of microbiota disruption; this could be the possible cause of your SIBO.
Unlike antibiotics, herbal supplements can differentiate between bacteria in the wrong place, responsible for your digestive pain, and those in the right place.
Both approaches (conventional and natural) have proven their effectiveness, showing an 80% efficacy in treating SIBO.
In other words, Antibiotic therapy are no more effective than herbal supplements. To avoid further damage to your body, it’s better to favor herbal supplements.
Herbal supplements vary depending on your situation and the type of SIBO. The best known are:
Adopting a diet is a necessary step in treating SIBO.
Several diets exist:
By following these diets, you have a good chance of experiencing an improvement in your symptoms. However, as with most diets, they should not be followed for long periods of time, as this can lead to the development of nutritional deficiencies.
Let’s briefly explain what these diets are, their pros and cons:
You may have already heard of the low-FODMAP diet. This diet is often recommended by gastroenterologists when people have digestive problems. Its unique feature is that it avoids certain foods containing carbohydrates that can ferment in the intestine.
Pros of the low-FODMAP diet:
Cons of the low-FODMAP diet:
The Elemental Diet isn’t really a diet, but rather a treatment approach in its own right, just like antibiotics and herbal treatment. It’s a liquid, hypoallergenic formula of predigested nutrients mixed with water. Depending on your situation, this is the diet you might follow to treat your SIBO.
Pros of the Elemental Diet:
Cons of the Elemental Diet:
It’s a combination of the Low FODMAP and SCD diets that includes herbal supplement therapy. This is the diet I recommend for treating your SIBO.
Pros of Bi-phasic diet:
Cons of Bi-phasic diet:
These diets have been grouped together. They are less reputable, have less evidence of their effectiveness, and are not among the diets I use for the treatment of SIBO.
Here, however, are their specific features, pros and cons for your information.
The SCD diet eliminates carbohydrates to limit food fermentation.
Pros of the SCD diet:
Cons of the SCD diet:
The GAPS diet aims to reduce intestinal permeability and heal the gut.
Pros of the GAPS diet:
Cons of the GAPS diet:
The SSFG diet reduces a variety of fermentables to relieve symptoms.
Pros of the SSFG diet:
Cons of the SSFG diet:
In addition to herbal supplements, you could use to take several dietary supplements with different uses that vary depending on your situation. This may include biofilm disruptors, digestive enzyme complexes, etc.
Moreover, you should be aware that dietary supplements should continue after the SIBO has cleared. Depending on your situation, this may include supplements that can restore the intestinal wall, restore the motility of the migrating motor complex (MMC), do a liver detox, etc.
Taking — adapted — probiotics is also recommended to repopulate your microbiota.
As you can see, treating SIBO is not easy and requires support.
Finding a qualified person suited to SIBO treatment is a challenge because there are not a lot of trained professionals and approaches are often standardized. Even the treatments offered in hospitals and medical centers are not tailored to your needs; therefore, your SIBO won’t disappear with these non-personalized treatments.
My personal experience with SIBO allows me to understand your situation. I know the suffering you’re going through and how difficult it is to accept the medical woes.
Thanks to my research and targeted training, I managed to overcome SIBO. Today, I offer my expertise to provide you with natural and personalized support.
My goal is to permanently free you from your digestive problems so that you can regain an optimal quality of life!
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