Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth - SIBO is characterized by an abnormally high number of bacteria in the small intestine. These bacteria ferment the food you eat, producing gas that becomes trapped and often leads to bloating, which can be painful. Depending on the type of bacteria involved, SIBO may cause diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both.

Since most nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine, SIBO can contribute to malabsorption, inflammation of the gut lining, and intestinal permeability ("leaky gut").

SIBO is a symptom of a deeper underlying imbalance and will not fully resolve until that root cause is addressed. Common contributors include food poisoning (post-infectious IBS), chronic stress, dysbiosis, and hypothyroidism, among others.

It is most commonly diagnosed using a lactulose breath test, which measures levels of hydrogen and methane gases produced by bacterial fermentation in the small intestine.