What is SIBO?

SIBO: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

SIBO is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes a myriad of symptoms:

• Bloating/gas or abdominal pain

• Headaches

• Change in bowel habits (either more constipated or more loose stools)

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea

• An uncomfortable feeling of fullness after eating

• Unintentional weight loss

• Malnutrition

You may experience one, two, all or any combination of the symptoms above. Every body is different, and how we react to an overgrowth of bacteria can look very distinct from person to person. 

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, it’s time to get a check up with your care provider and/or naturopathic doctor. 

So what exactly is SIBO, and why do we get it? 

SIBO is an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the small intestine. Normally, the majority of our microbiome (bacteria) should reside in the colon or large intestine. Very minimal amounts of bacteria are present in the small intestine. The small intestine takes food and absorbs all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients and then dumps the rest into the colon (*simplified version). The colon takes all that extra roughage/fibre from the small intestine and the colonic bacteria eat and ferment it, further sending it into the rectum to be expelled. 

For various reasons bacteria will overgrow in the small intestine or back flow from the colon into the small intestine. 

Some causes of SIBO are:

• Crohn's disease

• Celiac disease

• Diabetes

• Poor motility (constipation)

• Low stomach acid

• IBS

• Physical trauma

• Hyperthyroidism

• Chronic stress

There may be other underlying causes contributing to your discomfort. This can be discussed in office with a qualified practitioner. 

Now that we know what SIBO is, and what can causes it, we can discuss how to test for it and what a typical treatment looks like. Stay tuned for further posts about these topics.