SIBO
In our form, there is a space of 10 items in the problem / complaint section. If these 10 items are not enough and the complaints go beyond the list, the first thing we should suspect is Sibo.
General common complaints of our patients;
- Bloating
- Gas, Diarrhea or Constipation
- Treatment Resistant Iron, B12, Vitamin D Deficiencies
- Persistent Acne, Acne Rosacea
- Fibromyalgia
- IBS
- Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver
- Restless Legs
- Sleep Problems
- Complaints that persist despite the elimination diet
- Chronic Fatigue
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Anxiety
It is a very crowded list and 70 percent of our patients with sibos have all these complaints.
So, what is this Sibo?
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) means excessive bacterial growth in the small intestine. An abbreviation consisting of the initials of English.
There are billions of bacteria in our digestive system, but thanks to stomach acid, migratory motor complex and ileocecal valve, the number of bacteria in 1 ml of liquid in our small intestines is normally less than 1000.
However, the number of bacteria per ml in this area increases due to reasons such as long-term use of acid suppressing drugs, intra-abdominal surgeries, diseases that disrupt the cleansing activity of the intestine such as diabetes, a carbohydrate-rich diet and a diet with frequent snacks.
These beneficial and harmful bacteria, which increase in number in our small intestine, break down the enzymes necessary for digestion and make digestion difficult. They multiply by feeding especially on carbohydrates, starches, sugar and alcohol and produce hydrogen and methane gas.
Here, while the increase in H2 gas causes pain and diarrhea, the increase in methane gas may cause persistent constipation.
Sibo Symptoms
- Gas, bloating and diarrhea
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Burping
- Constipation
- Foggy brain
- Diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), or irritable bowel
- Food intolerances such as gluten, casein, lactose, fructose and especially histamine tolerance
- Chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, neuromuscular disorders and immune diseases
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, especially vitamins B12, A, D and E and iron
- Fat malabsorption (pale, bulky and foul-smelling stools)
- Rosacea and other skin rashes (SIBO test + in 46% of those with Rosacea, Rosacea + in 36% of those with SIBO)
- Leaky gut
Common Diseases
- Hashimoto or hypothyroidism
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Acne rosacea
- Celiac disease
- Crohn's or ulcerative colitis
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Anemia
- Anxiety, depression
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis
- Interstitial cystitis
- Portal hypertension
- Restless legs syndrome
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
How is Sibo Diagnosed?
It is currently the most widely used test in clinical practice and has an accuracy rate of 80-85%. Before the Sibo test, you should consult with your doctor in terms of suitability and necessity for the test. There is a special diet that must be followed the day before the test. After this diet, the test is fasted for 12 hours and after the first breath sample, 20-40-60-90-120. Breath samples are taken again within minutes and H2 and methane measurements are made.
Treatment
As with all chronic diseases, Sibo can be done by creating a treatment plan that combines nutrition, supplements and lifestyle changes.
An antibiotic that does not have systemic absorption is used in the sybo. In some cases, a second antibiotic may be added.
A low fodmap nutrition plan is recommended.
However, low FODMAP nutrition is not recommended in the long term. During the treatment process, the process is completed by gradually adding inedible foods according to the patient's tolerance.
Although Sibo treatment generally lasts 6 months, this period varies from person to person.