SIBO

Receiving a diagnosis of SIBO can change your life overnight. But it can also pave the way to a healthier gut and an improved quality of life.

SIBO is a sign that your gut health is out of balance. You can remedy this imbalance with help from a gastroenterologist.

This page will discuss what SIBO is and the symptoms that you may experience with it. We’ll also discuss the causes of SIBO. Lastly, we’ll highlight treatment for SIBO, which includes medication and a plant-based, whole food diet.

SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. This occurs when there is an abnormal growth of harmful bacteria in the small intestine.

Trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, live in your large intestine. This ecosystem of microorganisms is your gut microbiome.

Your gut microbiome maintains a balance of both good and bad bacteria that keeps you healthy. These bacteria metabolize food and create products, including hydrogen and methane gas.

Under normal circumstances, your small intestine houses relatively few bacteria. This is because of the quick passage of food through the small intestine and the presence of bile. Bile breaks down fats, but it also prevents the growth of bacteria.

SIBO occurs when the flow of food through the small intestine becomes stagnant. This allows bacteria to feed and multiply. The growth of harmful bacteria in the small intestine throws off balance in your gut microbiome. And this leads to uncomfortable digestive systems.

SIBO can present with mild or severe digestive symptoms. But in rare cases, you may test positive for SIBO without any symptoms. 

Symptoms of SIBO may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Flatulence
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

More severe symptoms of SIBO may be a sign of a complication that needs medical attention. If your symptoms go untreated, it can lead to the development of medical complications, including:

• Malnutrition
• Anemia
• Kidney stones
• Osteoporosis

Many factors can disrupt your bowel motility and contribute to the development of SIBO.

Structural changes in the small intestine can block or slow the natural flow of intestinal contents. This may include scar tissue or abdominal adhesions. And in some cases, nerve damage or muscle weakness can prevent the contraction of the intestinal walls. This slows the movement of waste through the digestive tract.

Potential causes of SIBO include:

• Abdominal surgery
  • Gastric bypass
  • Gastrectomy
• Medical conditions
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Scleroderma
  • Diverticulosis

The diagnosis of SIBO begins with a review of your symptoms and medical history. If your symptoms are consistent with SIBO, we can order a breath test or a duodenal aspirate to diagnose your condition.

A breath test can confirm a SIBO diagnosis by measuring the gases in the air that you breathe out. High levels of hydrogen or methane gas can verify the presence of abnormal bacteria in your small intestine.

Breath testing is a non-invasive procedure that involves three simple steps:

1. You drink a beverage containing an indigestible sugar (lactulose)
2. You breathe into a collection device every 15 minutes for 3 hours
3. We measure the levels of hydrogen and methane gas in your breath

Duodenal aspirate is an examination of fluid from the duodenum to check for signs of infection. It is done with an EGD scope and is considered the gold standard for determining SIBO. 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease share the same symptoms as SIBO. And this is why it’s crucial to get an accurate diagnosis.

If you want to find the root cause of your symptoms, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.

Treatment for SIBO focuses on long-term strategies to restore your digestive health. This can reduce your symptoms and prevent the recurrence of SIBO.

Antibiotic treatment can relieve your symptoms by killing bacteria in the small intestine. But antibiotic treatment alone can make you predisposed to other conditions. Treatment for SIBO combines medication and dietary changes to provide lasting results.

Below, we’ll discuss some dietary changes that may improve your gut health and help you recover from SIBO.

Plant-Based, Whole Food Diet

Eating a plant-based, whole food diet increases the diversity of your gut microbiome. And this can restore the balance of good and bad gut bacteria. A healthy gut microbiome reduces your risk of developing SIBO and inflammatory diseases.

A plant-based, whole food diet incorporates foods from plant sources, including:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Legumes
  • Beans
  • Lentils
  • Peas
• Grains
  • Brown rice
  • Oats
  • Quinoa
• Nuts and seeds

Plant foods contain the following beneficial components:

• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Antioxidants
• Fiber
• Prebiotics
• Digestive enzymes

Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes help you break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. This allows the small intestine to absorb essential nutrients. Your digestive system naturally produces digestive enzymes, but SIBO can disrupt this process.

Plant-based foods can improve digestion because they contain digestive enzymes. Foods that are high in digestive enzymes include:

• Pineapples
• Papayas
• Mangoes
• Honey
• Bananas
• Avocados
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Ginger

Meat contains large amounts of fat and protein, which can lead to gut issues if you lack the necessary digestive enzymes. Lean sources of protein such as fish, tofu, beans, lentils, and peas may be easier to digest if you have SIBO.

Prebiotic Foods

Prebiotics are plant-based, whole foods that act as food for microorganisms in the large intestine. They increase the growth of healthy bacteria and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria.

The following plant sources are rich in prebiotics:

• Onions
• Garlic
• Bananas
• Whole grains
• Jerusalem artichokes

Many prebiotic foods are also good sources of fiber. Fiber can bulk up your stool and improve bowel motility. Good sources of pre-biotic fiber are:

Probiotics for SIBO

Probiotics are live microorganisms that alter your gut microbiome. They may improve digestive health by increasing healthy bacteria in the large intestine.

Benefits of probiotics for SIBO may include:

• Decreased bacterial overgrowth
• Reduced hydrogen production
• Improvement in abdominal pain

But probiotics are not recommended for everyone. If you have a suppressed immune system, consuming live microorganisms may increase your risk of infection. You should consult your doctor before adding probiotics to your diet.

SIBO is treatable with antibiotics. But if you don’t restore your gut health with diet and lifestyle changes, you may experience symptoms of SIBO again. 

Dr. Sameer Islam is a gastroenterologist and West Texas, native. He uses both Western medicine and natural treatments to help you manage your digestive symptoms.

If you want to find long-term relief from digestive discomfort, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.