What is SIBO?
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth is an accumulation of bacteria in the small intestine. The overgrowth is of bacteria that normally live in the gastrointestinal tract but have abnormally overgrown in a location not meant for so many bacteria.
The Problem
The bacteria interfere with our normal digestion and absorption of food and are associated with damage to the lining or membrane of the SI (leaky gut syndrome, which I prefer to call leaky SI in this case).
For more details, please see my class videos and the other resources at Learning More, as well as the articles below.
The Problem
The bacteria interfere with our normal digestion and absorption of food and are associated with damage to the lining or membrane of the SI (leaky gut syndrome, which I prefer to call leaky SI in this case).
- They consume some of our food which over time leads to deficiencies in their favorite nutrients such as iron and B12, which can cause anemia or chronic low ferritin.
- They consume food unable to be absorbed due to SI lining damage, which continues the overgrowth (a vicious cycle).
- After eating our food, they produce gas/ expel flatus, within our SI. The gas causes abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea or both (the symptoms of IBS). Excess gas can also cause belching and flatulence.
- They decrease proper fat absorption by deconjugating bile, which can lead to deficiencies of vitamins A & D and fatty stools.
- Through the damaged lining, larger food particles not able to be fully digested, can enter into the body which the immune system can react to. This can cause food allergies/ sensitivities.
- Bacteria themselves can also enter the body/bloodstream. Immune system reaction to bacteria and their cell walls (endotoxin) can cause chronic fatigue and body pain and burden the liver.
- Finally, the bacteria excrete acids which may, in high amounts lead to neurological and cognitive symptoms.
For more details, please see my class videos and the other resources at Learning More, as well as the articles below.
Overview Articles
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, the case of the perpetual patient by Dr's Siebecker & Sandberg-Lewis NDNR.com
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth: Often Overlooked Cause of IBS by Dr's Siebecker & Sandberg-Lewis. PDF
Nutritional Consequences of Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth by Dr DiBaise Mayo Clinic
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) by Dr Marks Medicine.net
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome by Dr Bures and associates PubMed Central
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth: Often Overlooked Cause of IBS by Dr's Siebecker & Sandberg-Lewis. PDF
Nutritional Consequences of Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth by Dr DiBaise Mayo Clinic
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) by Dr Marks Medicine.net
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome by Dr Bures and associates PubMed Central
Overview You Tubes
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Site author: Dr Allison Siebecker