Symptoms of SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) - iLearnHuman

What is SIBO

If you often suffer from symptoms such as swelling and abdominal pain, meteorism, eruptions, alternation of constipation and diarrhea, gastric reflux, nausea, tiredness and acne, these may be the SIBO alarm bell.

• SIBO stands for "small intestinal bacterial overgrowth", ie excessive growth of bacteria in the small intestine; but how does this condition occur? The small intestine does not present physiologically a large number of bacteria they represent 1/1000 of those contained in the bulk since this small amount must only guarantee protection against pathogenic microorganisms and the yeasts we ingest. When there is an over-escalation of bacteria within the small one it means that the balance between the small and the colon has broken, which breaks causes the migration of different types of bacteria from the colon to the small intestine.

What are the Causes of SIBO

The body defends itself from bacterial proliferation through mechanisms such as peristalsis, which prevents stasis in intestinal contents, pancreatic enzymes, bile and hydrochloric acid that have a certain bacteriostatic function and control microbial growth.

• The causes of intestinal balance alteration are numerous: hypocloriduria is one of the many causes, namely the lack of gastric acid availability, which can not properly digest proteins and therefore absorbs them, causing the tubers and fermentation of the same and giving rise to inflammation, but also the production of gas (hydrogen) and ammonia. Gastric acid tends to decrease especially when taking drugs such as proton pump inhibitors.

• Other factors that determine this syndrome are stress, which can reduce the secretion of hydrochloric acid and intestinal peristalsis, intestinal inflammation (irritable colon syndrome, Crohn, etc.), a weak immune system, the use of antibiotics without having a cure of lactic ferments at concomitance;, antibiotic abuse leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria, on the other, it eliminates some good bacteria that protect us from pathogens and then prepares a perfect environment for bowel imbalance.

• Additionally, sufferers of intestinal permeability may go to SIBO especially in the presence of metals, such as iron and nickel, which are introduced through feeding; if these are excessive they are used by bacteria to reinforce and act in the wrong spots.

When to Suspect SIBO

Some situations may arise when you are suffering from SIBO but we have not yet come to know it; for example, the appearance of irritable bowel syndrome after a gastroenteritis, the improvement of the symptoms after antibiotic therapy, the worsening of the same, but, due to the intake of lactic ferments, low levels of ferritin (excluding other causes) due to malabsorption.

How to diagnose SIBO

SIBO can be diagnosed by subjecting the Breath glucose test; a glucose concentrate is administered and, following the exhalation, the concentration of hydrogen (H2) released is measured; hydrogen is formed because normally in the small intestine there is a poor intestinal bacterial flora, which does not ferment any sugar, but if you suffer from SIBO, the sugars ferment by releasing hydrogen.

• The test begins at 7.30 am and lasts for 2 hours. In the seven days before the date set for the examination, the patient should not undergo any antibiotic, lactic and laxative therapy and should not have important diarrhea in progress.

• On the day before the examination, the patient should be fed exclusively with breakfast a glass of tea and cracked slices, a lunch with a boiled rice dish seasoned with little oil and dinner with a steak or a fish. Drink only water and do not take fruit, vegetables, pasta, and bread. On the day of the examination, you must be at least 8 hours fast, avoid smoking and undergoing excessive physical exertion. Rinse the oral cavity with chlorine dioxide 0.2%.

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